BX  7799   .F912  P5  1834 
Society  of  Friends. 

Philadelphia  Yearly 
Rules  of  discipline  of 


Digitized  by  tlie  Internet  Arcliive 
in  2015 


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i. 


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I 


RULES  OF  DISCIPLINE  A 

OCT  23  19; 

YEARLY  MEETING  OF  FRIENDS, 


PENNSYLVANIA,  NEW-JERSEY,  DELAWARE, 


EASTERN  PARTS  OF  MARYLAND: 


REVISED  AND  ADOPTED  BY  THE  SAID  MEETING, 


BY  ADJOURNMENTS  FROM  THE  21st  OF  THE  FOURTH  MONTH,  TO  THF. 
•2f.ih  OF  THE  SAME,  INCLUSIVE,  1834. 


PHILJIDELPHIA: 
PRINTED  BY  JOSEPH  RAKESTRAVV. 

1834. 


Entered  according  to  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  1834,  by  Joseph  Rakeslraw, 
on  behalf  of  the  Yearly  Meeting  of  Friends  of  Philadelphia,  &c.  in  the  Clerk's 
Office  of  the  District  Court  of  the  Eastern  District  of  Pennsylvania. 


INTRODUCTION. 


As  it  hath  pleased  the  Lord  in  these  latter  days,  by 
his  spirit  and  power,  to  gather  a  people  to  himself; 
and,  releasing  them  from  the  impositions  and  teach- 
ings of  men,  to  inspire  them  with  degrees  of  the  same 
universal  love  and  good  will  by  which  the  dispensa- 
tion of  the  gospel  was  ushered  in, — these  have  been 
engaged  to  meet  together  for  the  worship  of  God  in 
Spirit,  according  to  the  direction  of  the  holy  Law- 
giver ;  as  also  for  the  exercise  of  a  tender  care  over 
each  other,  that  all  may  be  preserved  in  unity  of  faith 
and  practice,  answerable  to  the  description  which  He 
the  ever-blessed  Shepherd  gave  of  his  flock ;  "  by  this 
shall  all  men  know  that  ye  are  my  disciples,  if  ye  have 
love  one  to  another."    John  xiii.  35. 

For  this  important  end,  and  as  an  exterior  hedge 
of  preservation  to  us,  against  the  many  temptations 
and  dangers,  to  which  our  situation  in  this  world  ex- 
poses us,  rules  for  the  government  of  the  Society  have 
been  made  and  approved  from  time  to  time,  and  the 
following  now  form  our  code  of  discipline.  In  the 
exercise  whereof  it  is  to  be  observed  that,  if  any 
member  be  found  in  a  conduct  subversive  of  its  order, 
or  repugnant  to  the  religious  principles  and  testi- 
monies which  we  believe  we  are  intrusted  with,  for 
the  promotion  of  truth  and  righteousness  in  the  earth, 
it  becomes  our  indispensable  duty  to  treat  with  such. 


4 


INTRODUCTION. 


in  meekness  and  brotherly  compassion,  without  un- 
necessary delay  or  improper  exposure;  according  to 
the  direction  of  our  Lord  to  his  church :  "  if  thy 
brother  shall  trespass  against  thee,  go  and  tell  him 
his  fault,  between  thee  and  him  alone:  if  he  shall  hear 
thee,  thou  hast  gained  thy  brother.  But  if  he  will 
not  hear  thee,  then  take  with  thee  one  or  two  more, 
that  in  the  mouth  of  two  or  three  witnesses,  every 
word  may  be  established.  And  if  he  shall  neglect  to 
hear  them,  tell  it  unto  the  church  ;  but  if  he  neglect  to 
hear  the  church,  let  him  be  unto  thee  as  an  heathen- 
man  and  a  publican."    Matt.  chap,  xviii.  15,  16,  17. 

This  is  the  extent  of  the  Society's  censure  against 
irreclaimable  offenders,  they  are  disowned  as  members 
of  our  religious  community ;  which  is  recommended 
to  be  done  in  such  a  disposition  of  mind,  as  may  con- 
vince them,  that  we  sincerely  desire  their  recovery 
and  restoration,  considering  ourselves,  lest  we  also 
be  tempted.    Gal.  vi.  1. 

For  the  more  regular  and  effectual  support  of  this 
order  of  the  Society,  beside  the  usual  meetings  for  the 
purpose  of  Divine  worship,  others  are  instituted:  such 
as.  Firsts  Preparative  meetings,  which  are  subordinate 
to  the  monthly,  and  commonly  consist  of  the  mem- 
bers of  a  meeting  for  worship:  Second,  Monthly  meet- 
ings, each  of  which  commonly  consists  of  several 
preparative  meetings,  all  subordinate  to  the  quarterly 
meeting :  Third,  Quarterly  meetings,  each  of  which 
consists  of  several  of  the  monthly  meetings ;  it  and 


INTRODUCTION. 


5 


its  branches  being  under  the  direction  of  the  yearly 
meeting*  which  embracing  the  whole,  its  decisions 
are  obligatory  upon  all. 

These  meetings  have  all  distinct  allotments  of  ser- 
vice; and  as  experience  shows,  that  when  this  service  is 
attended  to  in  uprightness  and  dedication  of  heart,  with 
a  single  eye  to  the  honour  of  our  Hol}'^  Head,  and  the 
help  and  edification  of  one  another,  in  the  love  where- 
with he  has  loved  us,  our  assemblies  are  often  favour- 
ed with  his  aid  and  direction ;  Friends  are  affection- 
ately desired  and  exhorted,  to  be  diligent  in  the  at- 
tendance of  them ;  and  when  met,  humbly  seek  to  be 
clothed  with  the  spirit  of  wisdom  and  charity:  this 
will  divest  the  mind  of  a  dependance  on  our  own 
strength  afid  abilities,  endue  us  with  patience  and  con- 
descension towards  each  other ;  and  being  preserved 
in  fellowship  agreeably  to  our  Lord's  declaration, 
"One  is  your  master,  even  Christ,  and  all  ye  are 
brethren,"  a  qualification  will  be  experienced  in  our 
several  stations  and  movements,  to  build  up  one  an- 
other in  that  faith,  which  works  by  love  to  the  puri- 
fying of  the  heart. 

So  may  we  be  living  members  of  the  Church-militant 
on  earth;  and  inhabitants  of  that  city  which  hath 
foundations,  whose  maker  and  builder  the  Lord  is ; 
knowing  indeed  with  exceeding  joy  that  great  is  He 
the  Holy  One  of  Israel  in  the  midst  of  her. 

•  In  the  society  there  are  ten  such  yearly  meetings,  viz.  one  held  in  London,  one 
in  Dublin,  and  eight  on  the  American  continent. 


i 


ACKNOWLEDGMENTS. 


It  is  the  sense  of  this  meeting,  that  offenders  incHn- 
ing  to  make  acknowledgment  of  their  offences,  do 
prepare  the  same  in  writing,  and  if,  on  consulting  the 
overseers  or  other  judicious  Friends,  the  purport  ap- 
pears suitable  to  the  occasion,  and  the  situation  of  the 
party  will  admit  of  it,  he  or  she  may  present  it  to  the 
meeting  in  person,  and  stay  till  it  is  read;  when,  after 
time  given  for  a  solid  pause,  the  applicant  should 
withdraw  before  that  or  any  other  business  is  proceed- 
ed upon.  The  meeting  is  then  to  consider  the  case, 
and  when  a  conclusion  is  come  to,  appoint  two  or 
more  Friends  to  inform  the  part}'  thereof. — 1743, 1806. 

When  a  disowned  person  removes  out  of  the  verge 
of  the  meeting  which  disowned  him  or  her,  and  ap- 
plies thereto  for  reinstatement,  acknowledging  his  or 
her  error,  and  if  by  reason  of  the  distance  the  applicant 
cannot  be  conveniently  treated  with  in  person,  the  said 
meeting  may  correspond  with  the  monthly  meeting 
within  the  compass  of  which  he  or  she  resides,  and 
inquire  into  his  or  her  fitness  for  membership;  and  if 
satisfaction  on  that  head  is  received,  a  certificate  for 
such  person,  directed  to  the  said  monthly  meeting, 
may  be  forthwith  sent,  acknowledging  him  or  her  as 
a  member  of  our  society. — 1806. 


8 


ACKN0WLEDG31ENTS. 


As  it  may  not  always  be  necessary  that  papers  of 
acknowledgment  should  contain  a  recital  of  the  occa- 
sion of  disownment  as  specified  in  the  testimonies  of 
denial,  it  is  agreed  that  monthly  meetings  be  left  to 
their  discretion  in  this  respect ;  and  that  neither  tes- 
timonies of  denial  nor  acknowledgments  be  read  at 
the  close  of  our  public  meetings  for  worship. — 1806. 

If  a  monthly  and  quarterly  meeting  unite  in  believ- 
ing that  the  offering  of  a  person  who  had  been  mar- 
ried to  the  husband  of  a  deceased  sister,  (the  husband 
being  also  deceased)  proceeds  from  a  ground  of  sin- 
cerity and  real  religious  concern,  they  are  left  at 
liberty  to  accept  it. — 1810. 


9 


APPEALS. 


If  any  persons  think  themselves  aggrieved  by  the 
judgment  of  a  monthly  meeting  in  his  or  her  case, 
and  a  copy  of  the  minute  or  testimony  of  such  judg- 
ment having  been  delivered  to  them,  which  is  always 
to  be  as  soon  after  its  issue  as  may  be  convenient, 
they  may  then  notify  the  first  or  second  monthly 
meeting  immediately  succeeding,  but  no  other,  of 
their  intention  of  appealing  to  the  ensuing  quarterly 
meeting:  which  notification,  the  monthly  meeting 
should  enter  on  its  minutes,  and  appoint  four  or  more 
Friends  to  attend  the  quarterly  meeting  with  that,  and 
copies  of  the  minutes  of  the  monthly  meeting  relative 
to  the  case,  signed  by  the  clerk,  or  if  the  appellant  is 
a  female,  by  the  clerks  of  both  meetings ;  which  noti- 
fication of  the  appeal,  and  the  minute  appointing  the 
committee  (or  respondents)  is,  after  the  representa- 
tives have  been  called,  then  to  be  read.  Whereupon 
the  quarterly  meeting  is  to  appoint  a  solid,  judicious 
committee,  consisting  of  not  less  than  eight,  nor  more 
than  twelve  Friends,  who  are  to  be  taken  cither  equally 
out  of  the  monthly  meetings,  or  in  such  proportion  as 
the  quarterly  meeting  may  deem  most  equitable,  but 
none  out  of  the  monthly  meeting  from  which  the  ap- 
peal comes.  No  member  of  a  monthly  meeting  ap- 
pealed against,  nor  any  appellant  is  to  be  at  liberty 
to  take  any  part  in  nominating  the  committee  of  the 

B 


10 


APPEALS. 


quarterly  meeting.  After  the  nomination  has  taken 
place,  the  names  of  the  proposed  committee  shall  be 
read  in  tlic  presence  of  the  appellant,  and  the  respon- 
dents appointed  on  behalf  of  the  monthly  meeting, 
and  each  party  shall  be  allowed  to  object  to  any  of 
the  committee,  not  exceeding  three  respectively.  The 
places  of  the  Friends  Avho  have  been  thus  objected  to, 
shall  be  supplied  by  a  fresh  nomination ;  which  nomi- 
nation shall  be  final.  A  time  and  place  for  their  meet- 
ing shall  now  be  fixed,  of  which  due  notice  being  given 
to  the  parties  concerned,  the  appellant  is  to  withdraw 
from  the  meeting.  The  committee  when  met,  shall 
proceed  upon  the  business  referred  to  them,  and  the 
appellant  shall  be  heard  in  support  of  the  grounds  of 
his  or  her  dissatisfaction,  and  afterwards  the  respon- 
dents in  reply,  showing  the  reasons  whereon  the  judg- 
ment of  the  monthly  meeting  was  founded,  until  both 
parties  have  been  fully  and  fairly  heard :  all  this  in 
the  presence  of  each  other.  If  either  of  the  parties 
concerned  in  an  appeal,  when  stating  or  replying  to 
the  case,  shall  digress  into  irrelevant  matter,  the  com- 
mittee should  stop  such  proceeding,  and  require  that 
the  subject  of  the  appeal  be  steadily  kept  to :  and  no 
member  of  a  committee  by  which  any  appeal  is  heard, 
is  to  express  in  the  presence  of  the  parties,  or  either  of 
them,  any  opinion  on  the  subject  or  subjects  at  issue. 
The  parties,  after  having  been  fully  heard,  shall  with- 
draw, previously  to  the  committee  entering  upon  the 
consideration  of  the  case.  The  committee  then,  care- 
fully deliberating  upon  the  business  referred  to  them, 
are  to  confirm  or  reverse  the  judgment  of  the  monthly 


APPEALS. 


11 


meeting,  as  on  an  impartial  just  sense  shall  appear  to 
be  right ;  and  when  they  have  agreed  in  a  judgment 
on  the  case,  a  report  in  writing  shall  be  prepared  and 
signed  as  the  report  of  the  committee,  by  all  those  so 
uniting  in  judgment. 

It  is  recommended  that  the  purport  of  the  written 
report  of  the  committee,  be  simply  the  confirming  or 
annulhng  of  the  decision  of  the  monthly  meeting;  and 
the  judgment  expressed  in  such  report  being  adopted 
by  the  quarterly  meeting,  a  few  Friends  should  be  ap- 
pointed to  give  early  information  thereof  to  the  parties. 

As  it  is  possible  there  may  be  some  who  may  make 
an  appeal  against  the  judgment  of  a  monthly  meeting 
without  any  just  cause;  if  on  an  impartial  investiga- 
tion of  the  case,  it  shall  be  manifest  to  the  committee 
of  the  quarterly  meeting,  that  the  appellant  has  really 
been  guilty  of  a  breach  of  our  discipline,  for  which  he 
or  she  has  been  regularly  treated  with  and  disowned, 
the  said  committee  shall  confirm  the  judgment  of  the 
monthly  meeting. 

If  an  appellant  shall  believe  that  he  or  she  is  ag- 
grieved by  the  judgment  of  a  quarterly  meeting  in  his 
or  her  case,  he  or  she  may  appeal  from  such  judgment 
to  the  yearly  meeting ;  in  which  case  they  shall  give 
notice  to  the  next  quarterly  meeting  immediately  suc- 
ceeding, but  no  other,  of  their  intention  to  apply  to  the 
ensuing  yearly  meeting  for  a  further  hearing;  the  said 
quarterly  meeting,  after  recording  such  notification,  is 


12 


APPEALS. 


to  appoint  at  least  three  Friends  to  attend  the  yearly 
meeting  witli  copies  of  the  records  of  both  the  monthly 
and  quarterly  meetings  in  the  case,  signed  by  their 
clerks,  and  to  act  on  behalf  thereof.  The  yearly 
meeting  having  received  notice  of  the  appeal  in  the 
reports  of  the  quarterly  meeting,  is,  upon  such  day 
as  it  shall  judge  suitable,  then  to  take  up  the  subject, 
whereof  the  appellant  and  the  committee  or  respon- 
dents of  the  quarterly  meeting,  are  to  have  due  notice 
to  attend  accordingly. 

The  minutes  of  the  quarterly  meeting  concerning  the 
appeal,  being  read  in  the  presence  of  both  parties,  the 
meeting  is  to  appoint  a  committee  of  two  Friends,  taken 
out  of  each  of  the  quarters  (except  the  one  from  which 
the  appeal  is  brought,)  to  hear  and  judge  of  the  said 
appeal.  No  member  of  a  quarterly  meeting  appealed 
against,  nor  any  appellant,  is  to  take  any  part  in  nomi- 
nating the  committee  of  the  yearly  meeting.  After  the 
nomination  has  been  made,  the  names  of  the  proposed 
committee  shall  be  read  in  the  presence  of  the  appel- 
lant and  respondents,  and  each  party  shall  be  allowed 
to  object  to  any  of  the  committee,  not  exceeding  four 
respectively;  the  places  of  those  thus  objected  to  shall 
be  supplied  by  a  fresh  nomination,  which  nomination 
shall  be  final.  A  time  and  place  shall  now  be  fixed 
for  their  meeting  while  the  parties  are  present,  after 
which,  the  appellant  is  to  withdraw  from  the  meeting. 


The  committee  and  the  parties  being  met,  the  appel- 
lant shall  be  heard  in  support  of  his  or  her  objections. 


APPEALS. 


13 


and  afterwards  the  respondents  in  reply,  in  the  presence 
of  each  other,  until  both  parties  have  been  fully  and 
fairly  heard.  If  either  of  the  parties  concerned  in  an  ap- 
peal, when  stating  or  replying  to  the  case,  shall  digress 
into  irrelevant  matter,  the  committee  should  stop  such 
proceeding,  and  require  that  the  subject  of  the  appeal 
be  steadily  kept  to :  and  no  member  of  a  committee 
by  which  any  appeal  is  heard,  is  to  express  in  the 
presence  of  the  parties,  or  either  of  them,  any  opinion 
on  the  subject  or  subjects  at  issue.  The  committee 
then  (the  w  hole  or  not  less  than  fifteen  being  present,) 
carefully  deliberating  upon  the  business  referred  to 
them,  are  to  confirm  or  reverse  the  judgment  of  the 
monthly  and  quarterly  meeting,  as  on  an  impartial 
just  sense  shall  appear  to  be  right.  And  when  they 
shall  have  agreed  in  a  judgment  on  the  case,  a  report 
in  writing  shall  be  prepared  and  signed  by  all  those  so 
uniting  in  judgment ;  which  report  being  adopted  by 
the  yearly  meeting,  the  parties  are  to  be  informed 
thereof  by  a  few  Friends  deputed  for  that  purpose. 

If  it  should  ever  occur  that  a  monthly  meeting  has 
real  cause  to  believe  that  it  is  aggrieved  by  the  de- 
cision of  its  respective  quarterly  meeting,  it  shall  have 
the  right  of  bringing  through  the  quarter,  its  situation 
to  the  yearly  meeting,  in  order  to  its  reconsideration 
and  conclusion,  under  the  same  regulations  as  arc 
provided  in  the  cases  of  individuals.  In  this  recog- 
nition of  the  established  right  of  monthly  meetings  to 
appeal  from  the  judgment  and  determination  of  quar- 
terly meetings,  it  is  fervently  desired,  that  the  peace 


14 


APPEALS. 


and  harmony  of  religious  Society,  as  well  as  an  ad- 
herence to  our  Christian  principles,  may  be  carefully 
preserved :  and  that  monthly  meetings  be  exceedingly 
cautious  and  well  assured  of  its  necessity,  before  they 
proceed  so  far ;  clearly  manifesting,  that  nothing  short 
of  their  sincere  belief  of  the  obligation  to  support  the 
cause  and  testimony  of  Truth,  has  led  them  to  such  a 
very  serious  movement. 

In  all  cases  of  appeal,  whether  to  a  quarterly  or  to 
the  yearly  meeting ;  if  the  appellant  does  not  attend 
in  person  to  prosecute  the  appeal  agreeably  to  the  fore- 
going rules  and  regulations,  he  or  she  shall  lose  the 
right  of  appeal;  and  the  judgment  of  the  monthly 
meeting  is  thereby  confirmed:  unless  through  sickness 
or  some  unavoidable  cause,  he  or  she  is  prevented 
from  being  present,  of  which  the  quarterly  or  yearly 
meeting  is  to  be  fully  satisfied,  before  it  agrees  to  a 
postponement  of  the  case. 

When  a  quarterly  meeting  has  become  so  reduced 
as  to  consist  of  only  two  monthly  meetings,  and  an 
appeal  is  presented  to  its  notice,  it  is  to  make  a  minute 
thereof,  and  appoint  a  few  Friends  to  attend  the  yearly 
meeting  with  the  minutes  and  proceedings  in  the  case, 
and  to  give  the  necessary  information  to  such  com- 
mittee as  may  be  appointed  by  the  yearly  meeting, 
duly  to  consider  and  determine  the  same. — 1834. 


15 


ARBITRATIONS. 


If  occasions  of  differences  arise  between  any  of  our 
members  about  their  property,  it  is  recommended  that 
the  parties  proceed  in  the  following  manner.  Let  the 
party  who  thinks  him  or  herself  aggrieved,  calmly 
and  kindly  request  the  other  to  comply  with  the  de- 
mand ;  and,  if  this  be  disputed,  the  complainant,  or  if 
he  or  she  lives  at  too  great  a  distance,  some  Friend 
whom  they  may  authorize,  should  take  with  him  one 
or  two  of  the  overseers,  or  other  discreet  Friends,  and 
in  their  presence  repeat  the  demand. 

If  this  step  also  fails  of  the  desired  effect,  the 
parties  should  be  advised  to  choose  a  suitable  number 
of  Friends  as  arbitrators,  and  mutually  engage  by 
bond,  or  other  written  instrument  adapted  to  the  oc- 
casion, to  abide  by  their  determination. — 1719. 

Should  this  proposal  be  acceded  to,  and  arbitrators 
be  accordingly  chosen;  they  ought,  as  speedily  as  cir- 
cumstances will  admit,  to  appoint  time  and  place,  and 
attend  to  the  business  without  unnecessary  delay ;  giv- 
ing the  parties  a  fair  and  full  hearing  in  the  presence 
of  each  other,  but  listening  to  neither  of  them  apart, 
nor  suffering  their  own  sentiments  to  be  known  abroad 
till  they  have  fully  digested  the  subject,  and  come  to  a 


16 


AIIB1TRATI0N3. 


clear  decision,  which  they  should  be  careful  to  do 
within  the  time  agreed  on. 

But,  if  either  of  the  said  parties  shall  refuse  to  sub- 
mit the  matter  in  dispute  to  arbitrators;  or,  when  that 
is  done,  neglect  to  give  his  or  her  attendance  when  de- 
sired, without  a  sufficient  reason  being  assigned ;  or 
not  abide  by  their  award  when  issued ;  in  either  of 
those  cases,  the  offender  should  be  complained  of, 
through  the  overseers,  to  the  preparative  meeting,  and 
if  needful,  to  the  monthly  meeting  of  which  he  or  she 
is  a  member ;  and  if  they  cannot  be  brought  to  a  due 
sense  of  their  error,  the  said  meeting  should  declare 
its  disunion  with  them,  unless  such  person  make  it 
evident,  to  the  satisfaction  of  the  said  meeting,  or  to  a 
committee  thereof,  that  the  award  is  erroneous  or  un- 
just. In  which  case,  the  matter  in  dispute  may  be 
referred  either  to  the  same,  or  other  arbitrators,  as  the 
meeting  shall  judge  best ;  and  their  award  shall  be 
final.  After  which,  if  either  of  the  parties  at  variance, 
prove  so  regardless  of  peace  and  unity  as  not  to  ac- 
quiesce in  such  corrected  determination,  the  monthly 
meeting  they  belong  to  should  proceed  to  issue  a  tes- 
timony against  him  or  her  so  refusing. 

Where  arbitrators  are  at  a  loss  for  want  of  legal 
knowledge,  it  may  be  proper  for  them,  at  the  joint  ex- 
pense of  the  parties,  to  take  the  opinion  of  counsel 
learned  in  the  law,  in  order  to  come  at  a  proper  judg- 
ment in  the  matter  referred  to  them.  That  they  may 
the  better  answer  the  end  of  their  appointment,  and 


ARBITRATIONS. 


It 


be  helpful  in  conciliating  the  minds  of  the  parties,  they 
ought  not  to  consider  themselves  as  advocates  for  those 
by  whom  they  are  chosen,  but  as  men,  whose  duty  it 
is  to  judge  righteously,  fearing  the  Lord.  They  should 
as  much  as  may  be,  shun  all  previous  information  re- 
specting the  case ;  or,  having  heard  any  thing  on  it, 
stand  unbiased  thereby. — 1751. 

They  should  reject  no  evidence  or  witness  proposed; 
nor  receive  any  but  in  the  presence  of  both  parties ; 
and  in  their  award,  they  need  not  assign  any  reason 
for  their  determinations. — 1719. 

And  whereas  there  may  be  some  circumstances  even 
in  disputed  matters,  wherein  the  foregoing  wholesome 
method  of  proceeding  cannot  be  complied  with ;  such 
as,  1st.  The  party  absconding,  or  leaving  the  country 
with  design  to  defraud  his  or  her  creditors ;  or,  2d. 
That  the  going  through  the  meetings,  by  the  time  it 
must  necessarily  take  up,  might  be  a  manifest  damage 
to  the  creditor  or  claimant,  by  other  people's  post- 
poning him  or  her,  as  in  cases  of  apparent  danger  of 
bankruptcy,  or  the  party  being  overloaded  with  debts, 
and  other  creditors  generally  coming  on;  or,  3d. 
That  there  may  be  danger  of  future  damage  to  such 
as  submit  thereto,  as  in  the  case  of  executors,  adminis- 
trators, or  trustees ;  it  may  therefore  be  necessary, 
and  it  is  advised,  that  the  monthly  meeting  where  such 
cases  happen,  do  hold  excused  such  as  shall  in  the  two 
first  mentioned  circumstances  in  this  paragraph,  ap- 
pear to  them  to  be  really  necessitated  to  proceed  at 

C 


18 


ARBITRATIONS. 


law ;  and  in  the  latter  case  of  executors,  administra- 
tors or  trustees,  where  it  shall  appear  to  the  meeting 
that  our  friendly  way  would  be  unsafe,  such  may  be 
permitted  to  have  the  matter  tried  at  law,  with  this 
caution,  that  the  parties  on  both  sides  do  behave  to- 
wards each  other  in  brotherly  love,  decency  and  mode- 
ration, without  anger  or  animosity,  which  will  be  a 
becoming  testimony  even  in  courts,  and  show  that 
nothing  but  the  nature  of  the  case,  and  our  station  in 
common  with  others,  under  the  laws  of  the  land,  bring 
any  of  us  there. — 1719. 

As  it  may  sometimes  occur  that  a  member,  either 
through  a  misunderstanding  of  the  business  or  from  an 
improper  influence,  may  present  a  complaint  against 
another  member;  the  overseers  after  fully  hearing 
both  parties,  and  being  decidedly  of  opinion  that  the 
case  does  not  require  a  reference,  are  to  advise  a 
speedy  settlement  thereof;  which  being  ineffectual, 
and  the  complainant  remaining  dissatisfied  therewith, 
he  may  have  liberty  to  inform  the  preparative  meeting 
where  the  other  party  is  a  member,  without  mention- 
ing any  name,  that  having  a  matter  in  dispute  with 
one  of  their  members,  he  is  desirous  of  their  assist- 
ance in  order  to  a  settlement  thereof.  The  said  meet- 
ing is  then  to  appoint  a  judicious  committee  to  inquire 
into  the  propriety  of  the  matter  being  left  to  arbitra- 
tion ;  if  they  should  judge  that  the  complaint  ought  to 
be  referred,  they  are  to  advise  that  it  be  submitted  ac- 
cordingly :  if  either  party  refuses  to  comply  with  this 
advice,  the  monthly  meeting  of  which  he  or  she  is  a 


ARBITRATIONS. 


19 


member,  is,  through  its  respective  preparative  meeting, 
to  be  informed  thereof,  to  take  up  the  case  accord- 
ingly and  endeavour  to  bring  the  business  to  a  speedy 
issue,  that  our  Christian  testimony  to  peace  and  con- 
cord may  be  duly  maintained :  but  if  the  committee 
of  the  preparative  meeting,  where  the  assistance  has 
been  requested,  concur  in  judgment  with  the  overseers, 
the  complaint  is  to  be  dismissed. — 1806. 

It  is  desired  that  persons  differing  about  worldly 
affairs,  do  as  little  as  may  be,  engage  Friends  in  the 
ministry  as  arbitrators  in  such  cases. — 1751. 


20 


BIRTHS  AND  BURIALS. 


As  those  who  attend  burials  may  sometimes  come 
from  far,  and  be  in  need  of  bodily  refreshment,  it  is 
earnestly  advised  that,  when  this  is  really  necessary, 
it  may  be  with  exemplary  moderation ;  and  that 
Friends  be  careful  in  this  and  all  other  respects,  to 
demean  themselves  with  gravity  and  decency;  remem- 
bering that  such  seasons,  especially,  ought  never  to 
be  perverted  into  opportunities  for  intemperance  or 
levity.— 1719. 

And  it  is  desired  that  where  any  thing  unbecoming 
appears,  the  offender  may  be  tenderly  admonished,  that 
so  every  thing  tending  to  lessen  the  solemnity  of  such 
occasions,  may  be  avoided. 

It  is  recommended  that  one  or  more  suitable  Friends 
of  each  particular  meeting,  be  appointed  by  monthly 
meetings  to  attend  at  funerals,  to  see  that  good  order 
is  observed ;  and  that  the  corpse  be  removed  about 
an  hour  after  the  time  set  for  meeting  at  the  house. 
—1729. 

Advised  that  Friends  be  careful  themselves,  and  dis- 
courage their  children  from  attending  the  worship  of 
those  who  are  not  in  communion  with  us,  and  particu- 
larly at  burials;  seeing  that,  in  so  doing,  there  is 


BIRTHS  AND  BURIALS. 


21 


danger  either  of  balking  their  testimony  for  the  Truth, 
to  the  wounding  of  their  own  minds,  or  giving  unneces- 
sary offence  to  their  sober  neighbours. — 1711. 

It  is  the  sense  of  this  meeting,  that  meetings  should 
not  be  appointed  on  account  of  the  interment  in  our 
burial  grounds,  of  persons  who  are  not  in  membership 
with  us ;  and  that  invitations  to  the  burials  of  such 
who  arc  not  interred  in  our  burial  grounds,  should  not 
be  made  in  our  religious  meetings. — And  also,  that 
Friends  be  religiously  guarded  in  publishing  invitations 
to  the  burials  of  such  not  in  membership  with  us,  who 
are  admitted  to  be  interred  in  our  grave-yards. — 1792. 

In  order  that  meetings  may  not  be  held  at  the  inter- 
ment of  our  deceased  members,  in  a  customary  or 
formal  way,  it  is  advised,  that  the  proposal  for  holding 
any  such  meeting,  be  previously  submitted  to  the  con- 
sideration of  the  elders  and  overseers,  or  other  solid 
Friends,  either  of  the" meeting  in  the  compass  of  which 
the  deceased  resided,  or  of  that  in  Avhich  the  interment 
is  to  take  place,  that  the  counsel  or  mind  of  Truth  may 
be  waited  for  and  followed. — 1792. 

To  prevent  the  introduction  of  improper  interments 
amongst  us ;  it  is  recommended  that  two  or  more 
Friends  be  appointed  to  the  care  of  our  several  burial 
grounds,  by  preparative  or  monthly  meetings,  as  the 
case  may  require,  and  that  no  person  who  is  not  in 
membership  be  buried  therein,  without  a  permit  in 
writing  signed  by  one  or  two  of  those  Friends ;  who 


22 


BIRTHS  AND  BURIALS. 


should  also  take  care,  that  our  burial  grounds  be  pro- 
perly enclosed,  and  kept  in  decent  order. — 1792. 

It  is  further  recommended,  that  at  all  interments, 
time  be  allowed  for  a  solemn  pause,  both  before  and 
after  the  corpse  is  put  into  the  ground. 

It  is  the  sense  of  this  meeting,  that  no  monuments 
either  of  wood  or  stone  be  affixed  to  graves  in  any  of 
our  burial  grounds ;  and  if  any  yet  remain  therein, 
that  these  be  forthwith  removed — so  that  no  cause  of 
uneasiness  on  this  account  may  exist,  or  partiality  be 
justly  chargeable  upon  us. — 1706,  1733. 

Friends  are  advised  against  imitating  the  vain  cus- 
tom of  wearing  or  giving  mourning  habits,  and  all 
extravagant  expenses  about  the  interment  of  the  dead. 

As  great  inconvenience  may  arise,  from  the  want  of 
due  attention  to  keeping  a  regular  record  of  births  and 
deaths,  it  is  earnestly  enjoined  on  each  monthly  meet- 
ing, that  they  appoint  a  careful  Friend,  whose  duty  it 
shall  be,  in  a  book  provided  for  the  purpose,  at  the 
monthly  meeting's  expense,  to  keep  a  record  of  all 
births  and  deaths  of  members,  that  shall  occur  within 
their  respective  limits,  and  which  shall  be  offered  to  him 
for  that  purpose ;  and  in  order  to  engage  the  attention 
of  monthly  meetings  more  closely  to  this  subject,  it  is 
further  enjoined,  that  an  explicit  answer  be  annually 
given  by  monthly  to  quarterly  meetings,  and  through 
them  to  the  yearly  meeting,  to  the  query.  Whether 


BIRTHS  AND  BURIALS. 


23 


due  care  is  taken  to  keep  a  regular  record  of  births 
and  deaths?— 1757,  1806. 

The  form  of  the  Record: 


BIRTHS. 


Names  of  the 
Children. 

WTien  bom. 

Karnes  of  the 
Parents. 

Their 
residence. 

Occasional 
Aotes. 

BURIALS. 


Names  of  the 
deceased. 

men 
decea.scd. 

Age. 

Wliere 
buried. 

Late 
residence. 

Occasional 
Notes. 

• 


► 


24 


BOOKS. 


As  the  meeting  for  SufTerings  are  to  take  the  over- 
sight  of  all  writings  proposed  to  be  printed,  -which 
relate  to  our  religious  principles  or  testimonies ;  our 
members  wlio  may  have  any  such  publications  in  view, 
are  to  lay  them  before  the  said  meeting,  for  its  advice 
and  concurrence.  And  it  is  the  sense  of  this  meeting, 
that  if  any  one  shall  print  or  publish  any  writing, 
against  the  advice  of  the  said  meeting  for  Sufferings, 
or  which  tends  to  excite  disunity  and  discord  among 
us,  or  any  writing  which  the  meeting  for  Sufferings 
shall  judge  derogatory  to  our  Christian  principles  and 
profession;  such  persons  should  be  complained  of  to 
the  preparative,  and  thence  to  the  monthly  meeting 
they  belong  to;  and  if  they  are  not  convinced  of  the 
impropriety  of  their  conduct,  so  as  to  condemn  the 
same  to  the  satisfaction  of  the  meeting,  they  should  be 
testified  against,  as  opposed  to  the  peace  and  good 
order  of  the  Society. — 1771. 

But  if  any  monthly  meeting,  when  a  complaint  is 
thus  regularly  made,  neglects  or  refuses  to  administer 
the  Discipline  as  herein  directed,  the  meeting  for  Suf- 
ferings is  then  to  spread  the  case  before  the  respective 
quarterly  meeting,  that  the  said  monthly  meeting  may 


BOOKS. 


25 


be  proceeded  with,  as  in  the  wisdom  of  Truth  shall 
appear  just  and  requisite. — 1834. 

If  any  member  of  our  religious  Society  shall  be  en- 
gaged in  printing,  selling,  or  distributing  books  or 
papers,  which  tend  to  the  denial  or  laying  waste  a  belief 
m  the  divinity,  mediation  and  atonement  of  our  Lord 
and  Saviour  Jesus  Christ — the  immediate  influence  of 
the  Holy  Spirit,  or  the  authenticity  and  divine  inspira- 
tion of  the  Holy  Scriptures,  they  are  to  be  dealt  with 
as  for  any  other  breach  of  our  Discipline;  and  if  they 
are  not  brought  to  a  sense  of  their  misconduct,  so  as 
to  condemn  the  same  to  the  satisfaction  of  the  monthly 
meeting,  they  should  be  disowned. — 1834. 

This  meeting  doth  earnestly  exhort  all  parents, 
heads  of  families,  and  guardians  of  minors,  that  they 
prevent,  as  much  as  in  them  lies,  their  children,  and 
others  under  their  care  and  tuition,  from  having  or 
reading  books  and  papers  tending  to  prejudice  the 
profession  of  the  Christian  religion,  to  create  the  least 
doubt  concerning  the  authenticity  and  divine  inspira- 
tion of  the  Holy  Scriptures,  or  of  those  saving  truths 
declared  in  them;  lest  their  infant  and  feeble  minds 
should  be  poisoned  thereby,  and  a  foundation  laid  for 
the  greatest  evils.  And  it  is  earnestly  recommended 
to  every  member  of  our  religious  Society,  that  they  dis- 
courage and  suppress  the  reading  of  plays,  romances, 
novels,  or  other  pernicious  books;  and  printers  and 
booksellers  in  profession  with  us,  are  cautioned  against 
printing,  selling  or  lending  such  books;  as  it  is  a  prac- 

D 


2G  BOOKS. 

tice  so  inconsistent  with  the  purity  of  the  Christian 
rehgion.  And  Friends  are  desired  to  be  careful  in  the 
choice  of  all  books  in  which  their  children  and  families 
read,  seeing  there  are  many  under  the  specious  titles 
of  promoting  religion  and  morality,  which  contain 
sentiments  repugnant  to  the  truth  in  Christ  Jesus. — 
1764. 


27 


CERTIFICATES. 


It  is  recommended  to  the  quarterly  and  monthly 
meetings,  to  take  care  that  all  certificates  or  minutes 
which  may  be  given  to  any  travelling  Friend,  be  re- 
corded, and  upon  the  return  of  such  Friend,  season- 
ably delivered  back  to  the  meeting;  and  that  all  cer- 
tificates of  removal  brought  by  any  Friend  intending 
to  reside  amongst  us,  shall  be  lodged  in  the  monthly 
meeting  where  the  same  is  accepted;  and  also,  that 
every  meeting  do  keep  a  copy  or  record  of  all  certifi- 
cates which  they  give  out. — 1718. 

All  certificates  of  removal  prepared  for  women 
Friends,  after  being  considered  in  their  monthly  meet- 
ing, are  to  be  sent  to  the  men's,  and  if  there  approved, 
signed  by  the  clerks  of  both.  If  they  are  directed  to 
any  place  beyond  the  limits  of  the  respective  quarterly 
meeting,  they  are  to  be  signed  by  the  clerks  and  one 
of  the  correspondents. — If  the  certificate  is  for  a  man 
only,  it  is  to  be  signed  by  the  clerk  of  the  men's 
meeting,  and  one  of  the  correspondents.  And  all 
other  certificates  or  minutes  given  forth  for  Friends, 
which  are  to  go  beyond  the  quarterly  meeting,  arc  to 
be  signed  in  like  manner.— 1723,  1828,  1834. 


28 


CERTIFICATES. 


Friends  are  advised  to  be  very  cautious  in  changing 
their  places  of  residence:  it  liaving  been  observed 
that  the  dissolving  of  old,  and  the  forming  of  new 
connections,  have  in  many  instances  been  attended 
with  effects  prejudicial  to  a  growth  in  the  Truth  and 
the  service  thereof,  both  in  the  heads  and  younger 
branches  of  families.  We  therefore  recommend  to 
all,  that  on  these  occasions  a  strict  attention  be  paid 
to  the  pointings  of  Divine  Wisdom;  and  that  before 
any  determine  to  change  their  places  of  abode,  they 
consult  with  their  experienced  fellow  members. — 
1719,  1769. 

It  is  the  judgment  of  this  meeting,  that  when  a 
certificate  of  removal  from  one  monthly  meeting  to 
another  is  received,  the  person  or  persons  recom- 
mended, shall  be  deemed  members  of  the  meeting  they 
remove  to.  But  if  any  such  person  shall  fall  into 
circumstances  requiring  pecuniary  relief,  within  one 
year  after  the  receipt  of  such  certificate,  the  meeting 
removed  to  ought  to  assist  them,  giving  speedy  no- 
tice thereof  to  the  other.  Whereupon  that  meeting 
should  immediately  take  care  of  them,  and  repay  the 
charge  which  has  been  or  may  be  incurred  on  that 
account.  And  if  the  meeting  from  which  such  per- 
sons removed  (on  consulting  with  that  within  which 
they  are)  shall  desire  them  to  return,  he  or  she  ought 
to  comply  as  soon  as  they  are  of  ability  so  to  do; 
and  the  Friends  where  they  reside,  should  yield  them 
such  advice  and  assistance  as  the  case  may  require. — 
If  any  such  persons  on  being  so  required  shall  refuse 


CERTIFICATES. 


29 


to  comply,  the  said  monthly  meeting  may  deal  with 
them  as  opposed  to  the  order  of  the  Society,  and  if 
they  cannot  be  prevailed  with  to  submit,  issue  a  testi- 
mony of  denial  against  them. — 1792. 

The  above  rule  enjoining  the  return  of  members  to 
the  meetings  they  have  removed  from,  is,  however, 
not  designed  to  extend  to  the  wife  of  a  person  who  is 
not  in  membership  with  us,  or  to  such  of  their  minor 
children  as  are  members;  but  if  such  should  need  re- 
lief, within  one  year  as  aforesaid,  they  should  be 
assisted,  in  the  manner  recommended,  by  the  meeting 
they  removed  from. — 1796. 

If  any  Friend  be  reduced  in  his  or  her  circumstances 
by  fire,  or  other  sudden  unavoidable  losses,  though  it 
may  be  within  one  year  after  their  removal  as  afore- 
said, they  should  be  kindly  assisted  and  relieved  by 
the  meeting  where  such  persons  reside,  and  considered 
members  thereof. — 1792. 

All  Friends  removing  out  of  the  limits  of  their 
monthly  meetings,  whether  for  continuance,  or  for  a 
considerable  length  of  time,  are  advised  to  apply  to  their 
respective  meetings  for  certificates,  directed  to  those 
within  which  they  propose  to  sojourn  or  settle.  But 
if  any,  not  duly  attentive  to  this  advice,  shall  remove 
without  BO  applying,  the  monthly  meetings  of  which 
they  are  members,  after  the  usual  inquiry  made,  and 
no  obstruction  appearing,  should  send  certificates  for 
them  to  the  monthly  meetings  within  which  they  are 


30 


CERTIFICATES. 


removed,  and  that  without  improper  delay;  but  if  their 
conduct  requires  their  being  dealt  with,  and  the  dis- 
tance is  such  as  to  be  inconvenient  for  the  meeting  they 
have  removed  from,  the  monthly  meeting  within  which 
they  are,  should  be  requested  to  treat  with  him  or  her 
thereon,  and  report  the  effect  of  its  care.  On  which, 
if  it  proves  satisfactory,  a  certificate  of  recommenda- 
tion or  removal  may  be  ordered;  but  if  otherwise,  and 
a  testimony  of  disunion  is  issued,  the  meeting  within 
which  he  or  she  resides,  should  be  furnished  with  a 
copy  thereof,  to  be  delivered  to  the  party,  with  infor- 
mation of  their  right  of  appeal. — 1806. 

Where  apprentices  or  persons  under  age,  are  under 
a  necessity  of  going  from  one  place  to  another,  their 
parents  or  guardians,  masters  or  mistresses,  should 
apply  for  certificates  for  them,  recommending  them  to 
the  care  and  oversight  of  the  monthly  meetings  whereto 
they  remove. — 1744,  1783. 

If  any  person  appearing  as  a  Friend,  come  within 
the  compass  of  a  monthly  meeting,  not  being  recom- 
mended by  certificate,  and  be  of  disorderly  conduct, 
the  overseers,  or  other  concerned  Friends,  should  in- 
quire whether  or  not  he  or  she  is  a  member  of  our 
Society;  and,  if  they  prove  so  to  be,  admonish  them, 
or,  if  the  occasion  require  it,  report  the  case  to  the 
preparative,  and  from  thence  to  the  monthly  meeting; 
which  should  thereupon  inform  the  monthly  meeting 
of  which  he  or  she  is  a  member,  of  the  circumstance, 
and  take  the  direction  of  said  meeting,  for  dealing 


CERTIFICATES. 


31 


further  with  them,  according  to  our  rules  in  cases  of 
that  nature. 

It  is  recommended  that  monthly  meetings,  as  way- 
may  open,  appoint  two  or  more  friends  to  visit  such, 
who  come  recommended  by  certificate  to  settle 
amongst  them. 

Monthly  meetings  are  advised  to  take  due  care,  that 
certificates  of  removal  be  seasonably  forwarded  by 
suitable  conveyances,  to  the  monthly  meetings  to  which 
they  are  directed — they  being  the  exclusive  property 
of  such  meetings. — 1800. 

When  a  monthly  meeting  is  engaged  to  prepare  a 
certificate  on  account  of  the  removal  of  any  Friend, 
to  reside  within  the  limits  of  another  monthly  meet- 
ing, careful  inquiry  should  be  made  by  a  committee 
appointed  for  the  purpose,  respecting  the  settlement 
of  his  or  her  affairs,  and  also  if  single,  concerning 
their  situation  in  relation  to  marriage  engagements ; 
and  if  a  satisfactory  clearness  is  so  far  ascertained, 
that  the  circumstances  of  the  party  do  not  form  any 
impediment  to  the  granting  a  certificate,  it  should 
state,  that  on  inquiry,  no  obstruction  appeared  to  the 
recommending  him  or  her  to  the  Christian  care  of  the 
meeting,  within  whose  limits  they  are  removed. — 
1818,  1834. 

When  a  certificate  of  removal,  addressed  to  a 
monthly  meeting,  is  produced  therein,  and  it  is  known 


32  CERTIFICATES. 

that  the  person  or  persons  recommended,  reside  within 
the  hmits  thereof,  the  certificate  should  be  considered 
as  accepted,  and  the  parties  members  of  that  meeting; 
subject  however  to  the  rule  as  it  relates  to  pecuniary 
relief  within  one  year  thereafter.  But  if  it  should 
appear,  that  the  conduct  of  them  or  any  of  them, 
requires  their  being  dealt  with,  the  certificate  should 
be  returned  to  the  meeting  which  granted  it. — 1816, 
1834. 


33 


CIVIL  GOVERNMENT. 


Liberty  of  conscience  being  the  common  right  of  all 
men,  and  particularly  essential  to  the  well  being  of 
religious  Societies,  we  hold  it  to  be  indispensably  in- 
cumbent upon  us  to  maintain  it  inviolably  among  our- 
selves :  and  therefore  advise  and  exhort  all  in  profession 
with  us,  to  decline  the  acceptance  of  any  office  or 
station  in  civil  government,  the  duties  of  which  are 
inconsistent  with  our  religious  principles;  or  in  the  ex- 
ercise of  which  they  may  be,  or  think  themselves  to 
be,  under  the  necessity  of  exacting  of  their  brethren 
any  compliances,  against  which  we  are  conscientiously 
scrupulous.  And  if  any  persons  in  membership  with 
us,  notwithstanding  this  advice,  shall  persist  in  a  con- 
duct so  reverse  to  our  principles  and  religious  liberty, 
it  is  the  sense  of  this  meeting  that  they  be  treated  with, 
as  in  other  cases  of  offence;  and  if  they  are  not  brought 
to  see  and  acknowledge  their  error,  that  the  monthly 
meetings  to  which  they  belong,  should  proceed  to  tes- 
tify our  disunity  with  them. — 1710,  17G2. 

It  is  also  the  sense  and  judgment  of  this  meeting, 
that  Friends  ought  not,  in  any  wise,  to  be  active  or 
accessary  in  electing,  or  promoting  to  be  elected,  their 
brethren  to  such  offices  or  stations  in  civil  government, 
the  execution  whereof  tends  to  lay  waste  our  Chris- 
tian testimony,  or  subject  their  brethren  or  others  to 

E 


31 


CIVIL  GOVERNMENT. 


sufferings  on  account  of  their  conscientious  scruples. 
— 17G2.   See  Oaths. 

Believing  that  we  are  called  to  show  forth  to  the 
world  in  life  and  practice,  that  the  blessed  reign  of  the 
Messiah,  the  Prince  of  Peace,  is  begun,  and  we  doubt 
not,  will  proceed  till  it  attains  its  completion  in  the 
earth,  when  according  to  the  prophecies  of  Isaiah  and 
Micah,  "  Nation  shall  not  lift  up  sword  against  nation, 
neither  shall  they  learn  war  any  more."  Influenced 
by  these  principles,  we  cannot  consistently  join  with 
such  as  form  combinations  of  a  hostile  nature  against 
any;  especially  in  opposition  to  those  placed  in  sove- 
reign or  subordinate  authority :  nor  can  we  unite  with 
or  encourage  such  as  revile  or  asperse  them. — 1762. 
See  Oaths. 


35 


CONDUCT  AND  CONVERSATION. 


Whatever  exercises  we  may  meet  with  on  account 
of  a  faithful  testimony  to  the  Truth,  in  all  godliness  of 
conversation,  and  to  the  end  that  we  may  not  faint  in 
our  minds,  let  us  consider  the  captain  of  our  salvation, 
who  endured  the  contradiction  of  sinners,  bearing  his 
cross  and  despising  the  shame,  and  is  now  set  down 
on  the  right  hand  of  God,  where  he  continually  maketh 
intercession  for  us — that  following  him,  and  under  his 
banner  fighting  the  good  fight  of  faith,  we  may  finally 
obtain  the  crown  of  righteousness  which  fadeth  not 
away. — 1694* 

It  is  directed  that  if  there  should  be  any  in  member- 
ship with  us,  who  are  guilty  of  lying,  swearing,  cursing; 
men  and  women  unlawfully  or  in  an  unseemly  manner 
keeping  company  with  each  other,  or  any  other  scan- 
dalous practice,  that  they  be  speedily  dealt  with  :  and 
where  any  are  guilty  of  any  gross  or  notorious  crime, 
or  such  other  disorderly  or  indecent  practices  as  shall 
occasion  public  scandal;  they  should  also,  if  practica- 
ble, be  dealt  with  without  delay,  by  the  overseers  or 
other  concerned  Friends ;  and  if  they  are  brought  to 
a  sense  thereof,  such  offenders  ought  without  improper 
delay,  to  remove  the  scandal,  and  as  much  as  in  them 
lies  clear  our  holy  profession  therefrom,  by  acknowl- 
edging the  offence,  and  condemning  the  same  in  wri- 


36 


CONDUCT  AND  CONVERSATION. 


ting  under  their  hand,  to  the  satisfaction  of  the  monthly 
meeting  whereto  they  belong.  And  where  any  such 
offender  does  not  so  acknowledge  and  condemn  the 
fault,  or  has  gone  off  to  parts  so  remote  or  unknown, 
as  to  render  it  very  difficult  or  impracticable  for  the 
overseers  to  treat  with  him  or  her ;  the  case  should 
be  early  represented  to  the  monthly  meeting,  that  dili- 
gent care  and  exertion  may  be  used  to  manifest  our 
entire  disapprobation  of  all  such  disgraceful  conduct ; 
and  whenever  it  shall  appear  seasonable,  that  a  testi- 
mony be  issued  for  the  clearing  our  religious  Society 
from  the  reproach  thereof. — 1719,  1834. 

If  any  in  membership  with  us  do  countenance  or 
promote  any  noisy  gatherings  or  tumults,  they  should 
be  speedily  dealt  with  as  disorderly  persons ;  and  if 
they  are  not  brought  to  a  due  sense  of  their  error, 
disowned. — 1720.    See  Spirituous  liquors. 

If  any  belonging  to  our  Society  shall  blaspheme,  or 
speak  profanely  of  Almighty  God,  Christ  Jesus,  or 
the  Holy  Spirit,  or  shall  deny  the  divinity,  media- 
tion or  atonement  of  our  Lord  and  Saviour  Jesus 
Christ,  the  immediate  revelation  of  the  Holy  Spirit, 
or  the  authenticity  and  divine  inspiration  of  the  Holy 
Scriptures;  or  print,  publish,  or  spread  any  work 
tending  to  lay  waste  a  belief  in  these  important  Chris- 
tian principles :  as  it  is  manifest  they  are  not  one  in 
faith  with  us,  the  monthly  meeting  where  the  party 
belongs,  should  extend  due  care  for  the  convincement 
of  his  or  her  understanding  and  right  restoration;  but 


CONDUCT  AND  CONVERSATION. 


37 


if  this  be  without  effect,  it  should  issue  a  testimony 
against  them.— 1806,  1834. 

By  the  propitiatory  sacrifice  of  Christ  without  us, 
he  hath  reconciled  us  to  God,  even  while  we  are 
enemies;  that  is,  he  offers  reconciliation  unto  us, 
and  puts  us  into  a  capacity  of  being  reconciled ;  and 
we,  truly  repenting  and  believing,  are,  through  the 
mercy  of  God,  justified  from  the  imputation  of  sins  and 
transgressions  that  are  past,  as  though  they  had  never 
been  committed :  and  by  the  mighty  work  of  Christ 
within  us,  the  power,  nature  and  habits  of  sin,  are 
destroyed ;  that  as  sin  once  reigned  unto  death,  even 
so  now  grace  reigneth  through  righteousness  unto 
eternal  life,  by  Jesus  Christ  our  Lord. — 1834. 

It  is  the  earnest  concern  of  this  meeting,  that  in 
all  our  dealings  and  transactions  among  men,  strict 
justice  may  be  observed,  and  that  no  motives  of  pecu- 
niary interest  may  induce  any  of  our  members  to  im- 
pose on  each  other,  or  on  others ;  and  it  is  desired 
that  monthly  meetings  may  be  careful  to  extend  suita- 
ble admonition  against  a  spirit  of  covetousness;  and 
where  there  is  any  deviation  from  strict  justice  in  any 
of  our  members,  that  they  be  dealt  with  as  for  any 
other  breach  of  our  Discipline. — 1778,  1834. 

Frequent  waiting  in  stillness  on  the  Lord  for  the 
renewal  of  strength,  keeps  the  mind  at  home  in  its 
proper  place  and  duty,  and  out  of  all  unprofitable  as- 
sociation and  converse,  whether  amongst  those  of  our 


38 


CONDUCT  AND  CONVERSATION. 


own,  or  other  professions.  Much  hurt  may  accrue 
to  the  religious  mind,  by  long  and  frequent  conversa- 
tion on  temporal  matters,  especially  by  interesting 
ourselves  unnecessarily  in  them  ;  for  there  is  a  leaven 
in  that  propensity,  which  being  sufiered  to  prevail, 
indisposes  and  benumbs  the  soul,  and  prevents  its  fre- 
quent ascendings  in  living  aspirations  towards  the 
fountain  of  eternal  life. — .1796. 


39 


CONVINCED  PERSONS. 


It  is  concluded  that  the  following  order  be  observed 
respecting  persons  who  apply  for  admittance  into 
membership,  and  request  to  come  under  the  care  of 
Friends. — That  they  apply  to  the  overseers  or  elders, 
who,  when  they  are  easy  so  to  do,  are  to  lay  it  before 
the  preparative  meeting;  and  after  that  meeting  is 
fully  satisfied,  by  paying  a  solid  visit,  or  otherwise, 
they  are  to  lay  the  case  before  the  monthly  meeting ; 
which  meeting  shall  appoint  some  suitable  Friends 
to  inquire  into  the  person's  life  and  conversation,  and 
also  to  take  a  solid  opportunity  of  conference  with  the 
party,  in  order  the  better  to  understand  whether  his 
or  her  motives  for  such  request  be  sincere,  and  on  the 
ground  of  true  convincement  of  our  religious  princi- 
ples, doctrines  and  testimonies;  and  make  report  of 
their  sense  of  the  person's  state  of  mind;  on  which, 
if  the  meeting  is  satisfied  of  his  or  her  fitness  for 
membership,  a  minute  should  be  made,  signifying  the 
acceptance  of  such  into  membership,  and  appointing 
a  Friend  or  two  to  ac(|uaint  the  person  thereof,  re- 
questing his  or  her  attendance  at  the  next  monthly 
meeting.— 1  TOG,  1834. 

But  in  all  such  cases.  Friends  are  exhorted  to  attend 
carefully  to  the  advice  of  the  Apostle,  "  Lay  hands 
suddenly  on  no  man:"  the  neglect  of  such  caution 


40 


CONVINCED  PERSONS. 


having  often  been  injurious  both  to  the  individuals 
and  to  the  Society — to  them,  by  settUng  them  in  a 
false  rest ;  and  to  the  Society,  by  adding  to  its  num- 
bers, without  increasing  its  jo}'. — 1806. 

Wherefore  we  desire,  that  on  every  application  of 
persons  to  be  received  into  membership  with  us, 
monthly  meetings  may  be  deep  and  weighty  in  their 
deliberations  and  result;  and  when  united  in  believing 
that  the  applicants  are  clearly  convinced  of  our  reli- 
gious principles,  and  in  a  good  degree  subject  to  the 
Divine  witness  in  their  own  hearts,  manifested  by  a 
circumspect  life  and  conduct;  said  meetings  are  at 
liberty  to  receive  such  into  membership,  without  re- 
spect to  nation  or  colour. — 1796. 


41 


DAYS  AND  TIMES. 


Advised  that  Friends  be  exemplary  in  keeping  to 
our  ancient  testimony  against  the  superstitious  obser- 
vation of  days;  and  to  the  simphcity  of  Truth  in 
calhng  the  days  and  months  by  Scripture  names,  and 
not  by  those  of  the  heathen. — 1691,  1697. 

Some  reasons  for  not  observing  fasts  and  feast 
days  and  times,  and  other  human  injunctions  and  in- 
stitutions relative  to  the  worship  of  God: — 

Ever  since  we  were  a  people  we  have  had  a  testi- 
mony against  formal  worship;  being  convinced  by  the 
precepts  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  the  testimonies  of 
his  Apostles,  and  our  own  experience,  that  the  worship 
and  prayers  which  God  accepts,  are  such  only  as  are 
produced  by  the  influence  and  assistance  of  his  Holy 
Spirit;  we  cannot  therefore  consistently  unite  with 
any  in  the  observation  of  public  fasts,  feasts,  and 
what  they  term  holy  days;  or  such  injunctions  and 
forms  as  are  devised  in  man's  will  for  divine  worship. 
The  dispensation  to  which  outward  observations  were 
peculiar,  having  long  since  given  place  to  the  spiritual 
dispensation  of  the  Gospel,  we  believe  the  fast  we  are 
now  called  to,  is  not  the  bowing  of  the  head  like  a 
bull-rush  for  a  day,  but  an  universal  and  continual 

F 


42 


DAYS  AND  TIMES. 


fasting  and  refraining  from  every  thing  which  has  a 
tendency  to  defile  the  soul,  and  unfit  it  for  becoming 
the  temple  of  the  Holy  Ghost,  according  to  the  injunc- 
tions of  Christ  to  his  primitive  disciples,  "  If  any  man 
will  come  after  me,  let  him  deny  himself,  and  take  up 
his  cross  daily,  and  follow  me."  Luke  ix.  23. — 
"  Watch  ye  therefore  and  pray  always,  that  ye  may  be 
accounted  Avorthy  to  escape  all  these  things  that  shall 
come  to  pass,  and  to  stand  before  the  Son  of  man." 
Luke  xxi.  36.  That  the  primitive  believers  saw  an 
end  to  these  shadows  of  good  things,  by  coming  to 
him  in  whom  all  figures  and  shadows  end,  is  evi- 
dent by  the  words  of  the  Apostle  Paul ;  "  For  Christ," 
said  he,  "  is  the  end  of  the  law  for  righteousness  to 
every  one  that  believeth."  Rom.  x.  4. — "  But  now  hath 
he  obtained  a  more  excellent  ministry,  by  how  much 
also  he  is  the  Mediator  of  a  better  covenant,  which 
was  established  upon  better  promises."  Heb.  viii.  6. 
And  the  same  Apostle  thus  expostulated  with  some, 
who  it  appears  had  fallen  from  the  true  faith  in  these 
respects:  "But  now,  after  that  yc  have  known  God, 
or  rather  are  known  of  God,  how  turn  ye  again  to 
the  weak  and  beggarly  elements,  whereunto  ye  desire 
again  to  be  in  bondage?  Ye  observe  days,  and 
months,  and  times,  and  years.  I  am  afraid  of  you, 
lest  I  have  bestowed  upon  you  labour  in  vain."  Gal.  iv. 
9, 10,  11.— 1759. 

As  we  do  not  find  any  ground  in  Scripture  for  it, 
we  cannot  be  so  superstitious  as  to  believe,  that  either 
the  Jewish  sabbath  now  continues,  or  that  the  first 


DAYS  AND  TIMES. 


43 


day  of  the  week  is  the  antitype  thereof,  or  the  true 
Christian  sabbath;  which  we  beheve  has  a  more  spi- 
ritual sense  and  signification ;  and  therefore  we  know 
no  moral  obligation  by  the  fourth  command  or  else- 
where, to  keep  the  first  day  of  the  week  more  than 
any  other,  or  that  there  is  any  holiness  inherent  in  it. 
But  as  we  believe  the  Apostles  and  primitive  Christians 
did  meet  on  this  day  to  worship  God,  so  we,  following 
their  example,  do  the  like,  and  forbear  working  or 
engaging  in  our  worldly  aflfairs  upon  that  day. — Works 
of  charity  or  Christian  benevolence,  such  as  visiting 
and  administering  to  the  sick  and  afflicted;  or  occa- 
sions of  unavoidable  necessity  may  sometimes  inter- 
fere with,  or  occasion  a  deviation  from  a  strict  adhe- 
rence to  the  uses  and  services  to  which  this  day  is 
specially  appropriated;  yet  it  is  our  continued  concern 
aflfectionately  to  recommend  to  all  our  members,  that 
abstainmg  from  bodily  labour  on  that  day,  they  ob- 
serve and  regard  it  as  a  day,  which  by  the  generality 
of  Christians,  is  peculiarly  set  apart  for  religious  re- 
tirement, and  the  performance  of  public  worship  to 
Almighty  God — 1834. 

Being  well  assured  that  the  edifying  practice  of 
frequently  collecting  our  children  and  families,  in 
order  for  religious  retirement,  would  be  promotive  of 
essential  benefit.  Friends  are  exhorted  to  seek  after  a 
right  qualification,  under  which  they  may  be  enabled 
to  maintain  it,  especially  in  the  afternoon  of  the  first 
day  of  the  week,  in  such  places  where  meetings  for 
public  worship  are  not  held  at  that  time;  the  due  dis- 


44 


DAYS  AND  TIMES. 


charge  of  which  duty,  and  sohdly  reading  the  Holy 
Scriptures  and  other  religious  books,  with  a  steady, 
watchful  care  over  our  young  people,  to  discourage 
their  visiting  and  rambling  about  on  that  day,  and 
mixing  with  unprofitable  company  at  this  and  at  other 
times,  would,  under  the  Divine  blessing,  be  a  means 
of  their  preservation  out  of  many  ensnaring  tempta- 
tions, to  which  they  are  liable. — 1834. 


45 


DEFAMATION  AND  DETRACTION. 


Friends  every  where  are  exhorted  to  maintain  a 
strict  watch  over  themselves  and  each  other,  against 
the  subtle  and  mischievous  spirit  of  tale-bearing  and 
detraction — the  manifest  tendency  of  which,  is  to  lay 
waste  the  unity  of  the  Body,  by  sowing  the  seeds  of 
disesteem,  strife,  and  discord  among  brethren  and 
neighbours;  as  well  as  to  unfit  those  who  either  pro- 
pagate or  listen  to  evil  reports,  for  being  of  that  ser- 
vice to  the  persons  reflected  upon,  which  they  might 
be,  if  the  order  prescribed  by  our  blessed  Lord  to  his 
church,  was  strictly  observed:  viz.  "If  thy  brother 
shall  trespass  against  thee,  go  and  tell  him  his  fault 
between  thee  and  him  alone:  if  he  shall  hear  thee, 
thou  hast  gained  thy  brother.  But  if  he  will  not  hear 
thee,  then  take  with  thee  one  or  two  more,  that,  in 
the  mouth  of  two  or  three  witnesses  every  word  may 
be  established.  And  if  he  shall  neglect  to  hear  them, 
tell  it  unto  the  church;  but  if  he  neglect  to  hear  the 
church,  let  him  be  unto  thee  as  an  heathen  man  and 
a  publican."  Matt,  xviii.  15,  16,  17.-1719,  1806. 

It  is  therefore  advised,  that  in  whomsoever  this 
weakness  appears,  it  may  be  immediately  checked; 
and,  if  any  one  gives  way  to  it,  to  the  obvious  injury 
of  another's  reputation  or  interest,  let  him  or  her  be 
faithfully  admonished;  and  if  they  cannot  be  prevailed 


46 


DEFAMATION  AND  DETRACTION. 


with  to  make  such  acknowledgment  of  their  error,  as 
shall  be  satisfactory  to  the  monthly  meeting,  they  are 
to  be  further  dealt  with ;  when,  if  this  produce  not  the 
desired  effect,  they  should  be  testified  against. — 
1800,  1834. 

If  any  member  who  offends  in  this  respect,  shelters 
him  or  herself  under  a  pretence,  that  they  say  no  more 
than  they  have  heard  from  others,  yet  will  not  disco- 
ver who  they  are — such  reporters  or  tale-bearers 
should  in  like  manner  be  dealt  with,  and  testified 
against  as  being  themselves  the  authors. — 1806. 


47 


DISCIPLINE,  AND  MEETINGS  FOR 
DISCIPLINE. 


The  institution  of  our  meetings  for  Discipline,  having 
on  experience,  been  found  very  beneficial,  it  is  earn- 
estly recommended  they  be  maintained  in  the  autho- 
rity vs^herein  they  were  established:  it  being  evident, 
where  any  have  been  negligent  in  attending  them,  or 
opposed  to  their  usefulness,  that  carnality  and  spiritual 
death  have  been  the  consequence. — 1701. 

The  connection  and  subordination  of  our  meetings 
for  Discipline  are  thus:  preparative  meetings  are  ac- 
countable to  the  monthly;  monthly  to  the  quarterly; 
and  the  quarterly  to  the  yearly  meeting.  So  that  if 
the  yearly  meeting  be  at  any  time  dissatisfied  with  the 
proceedings  of  any  inferior  meeting;  or  a  quarterly 
meeting  with  the  proceedings  of  either  of  its  monthly 
meetings;  or  a  monthly  meeting  with  the  proceedings 
of  either  of  its  preparative  meetings — such  meeting  or 
meetings  are  with  readiness  and  meekness  to  render 
an  account  thereof  when  required,  and  submit  to  the 
judgment  and  decision  of  its  respective  superior  meet- 
ing.— 1719,  1834.    See  Appeals. 

No  quarterly  meeting  shall  be  set  up  or  instituted, 
without  the  consent  and  approbation  of  the  yearly 
meeting — no  monthly  meeting,  without  the  consent 


48 


DISCIPLINE. 


and  approbation  of  the  quarterly  meeting — no  prepa- 
rative meeting  for  business,  nor  meeting  for  worship, 
until  united  with  by  the  monthly  meeting;  after  which 
the  consent  and  approbation  of  the  quarterly  meeting 
is  also  to  be  obtained. — 1719,  1834. 

If  at  any  time  the  yearly  meeting  shall  judge  it 
right  and  expedient  to  lay  down  or  dissolve  any  of  its 
quarterly  meetings,  and  join  the  monthly  and  other 
meetings  thereof  to  another  quarterly  meeting,  the 
said  meetings  are  with  readiness  to  submit  to  such 
decision  and  junction. — 1834. 

And  if  any  quarterly  meeting  shall,  upon  deliberate 
consideration,  judge  it  is  right  and  expedient  to  lay 
down  or  dissolve  any  of  the  monthly  or  preparative 
meetings  belonging  thereto,  and  join  the  members 
thereof  to  another  of  its  monthly  or  preparative  meet- 
ings, it  is  authorized  so  to  do,  and  the  members  of 
those  dissolved  meetings,  are  to  be  accepted  and  recog- 
nized as  under  the  care  of  the  said  meetings  to  which 
they  are  joined. — 1834. 

And  if  any  monthly  meeting  should,  upon  deliberate 
weighty  consideration,  conclude  that  any  of  the  pre- 
parative meetings  belonging  thereto  had  better  be  dis- 
solved, and  the  members  joined  to  another  preparative 
meeting  within  its  limits,  or  that  any  of  its  meetings 
for  worship  should  be  laid  down  or  discontinued,  it 
has  the  right  to  state  its  sense  and  judgment  to  the 
quarterly  meeting,  and  when  the  concurrence  thereof 


DISCIPLINE. 


49 


is  obtained,  the  proposed  dissolution,  junction,  and 
discontinuance  is  to  take  effect. — 1834. 

Wheresoever  it  appears  that  monthly  meetings, 
through  the  smallness  of  their  numbers,  or  the  want 
of  sufficient  qualification  for  the  due  maintenance  of 
the  Discipline,  are  under  difficulty  in  fulfilling  the  vari- 
ous obligations  devolved  upon  them,  it  is  recommended 
that  they  claim  the  sympathy  and  brotherly  care  of 
their  respective  quarterly  meetings,  which  should  ap- 
point committees  to  be  so  incorporated  with  monthly 
meetings,  as  to  render  the  needful  assistance  in  trans- 
acting their  business,  and  in  treating  with  offenders  in 
order  to  their  right  restoration,  or  where  the  labour  is 
ineffectual,  that  judgment  may  be  placed  upon  them 
in  the  authority  of  Truth.  This  extension  of  aid  to 
continue  until  the  quarterly  meeting  shall  judge  that  a 
different  arrangement  is  requisite. — 1828. 

The  necessity  of  continually  maintaining  the  con- 
nection and  due  subordination  of  meetings,  having 
always  with  much  solicitude  and  care,  been  enjoined 
as  indispensably  obligatory  upon  all  our  members  in 
their  several  places  and  stations ;  it  is  therefore  the 
concern  of  this  meeting  renewcdly  to  declare,  that  it  is 
repugnant  to  the  harmony  and  subversive  of  the  order 
of  our  religious  Society,  for  any  preparative  or  monthly 
meeting  to  assume  any  right  or  to  attempt  to  dis- 
solve its  connection  with  its  respective  monthly  or 
quarterly  meeting  to  which  it  has  regularly  belonged. 
No  preparative  meeting  can  therefore  transfer  its  sub- 

G 


50 


DISCIPLINE. 


jection  or  join  itself  to  any  other  monthly  meeting,  nor 
any  monthly  meeting  to  any  other  quarterly  meeting, 
than  those  of  which  they  are  a  constituent  part: 
but  if  at  any  time  it  should  be  evident,  that  it  would  be 
more  convenient,  or  tend  to  the  promotion  of  the  cause 
of  Truth,  for  the  members  of  any  preparative  meeting  to 
become  a  branch  of  any  other  monthly  meeting ;  or 
a  monthly  meeting  to  be  placed  under  the  care  and 
jurisdiction  of  a  different  quarterly  meeting  than  the 
one  they  belong  to;  the  said  preparative  or  monthly 
meeting  so  situated,  is  to  make  application  to,  and  by 
minute  of  the  monthly  meeting,  clearly  represent  the 
case  to  its  respective  quarterly  meeting,  and  if  there 
approved,  the  said  preparative  meeting  may  be  trans- 
ferred to  such  monthly  meeting  as  may  be  designated, 
within  the  limits  of  the  said  quarter;  but  if  the  propo- 
sal of  either  a  preparative  or  monthly  meeting  extends 
to,  and  is  comprehended  within  the  limits  of  a  different 
quarterly  meeting;  the  quarterly  meeting  where  those 
subordinate  meetings  belong,  after  carefully  consider- 
ing the  said  application,  and  concurring  therewith,  is 
to  consult  the  quarterly  meeting  proposed  to  be  united 
to,  and  when  it  is  there  also  approved,  the  contem- 
plated change  and  junction  may  be  finally  settled. — 
1834. 

No  meeting  for  worship,  intended  to  consist  of 
Friends  belonging  to  two  or  more  monthly  meetings, 
shall  be  set  up,  until  the  proposal  be  offered  to  and 
approved  by  both  those  monthly  meetings,  and  the 
consent  of  their  respective  quarterly  meeting  or  meet- 


DISCIPLINE. 


51 


ings  be  obtained :  when  the  meeting  proposed  is  opened, 
it  should  be  attended  by  a  few  sohd  Friends,  deputed 
by  each  of  the  said  monthly  meetings.  And  if  at  any 
time  it  is  thought  expedient,  that  a  preparative  meeting 
should  be  held  at  the  same  place,  the  consent  of  the 
said  monthly  and  quarterly  meetings  should  be,  in 
like  manner,  applied  for  and  obtained  ;  and  the  said 
preparative  meeting  should  be  annexed  to  either  one 
or  the  other  of  those  monthly  meetings,  as  may  be 
most  likely  to  conduce  to  the  benefit  of  the  individuals 
who  compose  it,  and  the  advantage  of  Society. — 1806. 

It  is  directed,  that  a  book  be  provided  by  every 
monthly  and  quarterly  meeting,  and  fair  minutes  be 
kept  therein,  of  all  matters  which  shall  come  before 
and  be  determined  by  them.  Monthly  meetings,  par- 
ticularly, are  advised  to  attend  to  and  finish  all  such 
business  with  care  and  despatch,  that  it  may,  at  no 
time,  suffer  by  improper  delay.  And,  if  any  case 
under  consideration  proves  too  weighty  or  difficult  for 
them  to  determine,  they  should  apply  to  their  respec- 
tive quarterly  meetings  for  assistance ;  or  if  the  cir- 
cumstances are  such  as  to  require  it,  refer  it  thereto 
by  minute. — 1719. 

It  is  the  sense  of  this  meeting,  as  a  general  rule  in 
all  cases,  that  where  any  monthly  or  quarterly  meeting 
has  occasion  for,  and  requests  copies  of  any  of  the 
papers,  minutes  or  records  of  another  monthly  or  quar- 
terly meeting,  the  same  may  accordingly  be  granted. 
—1705,  1719. 


52 


DISCIPLINE. 


Where  any  difference  happens  among  Friends,  and 
the  same  be  entered  in  any  monthly  or  quarterly  meet- 
ing book,  it  is  agreed,  that  if  the  parlies  or  either  of 
them,  think  that  copies  of  such  entries  may  be  useful 
and  necessary  for  them,  and  request  the  same,  such 
monthly  and  quarterly  meetings  shall  have  a  discre- 
tional power  to  give  or  refuse  such  copies,  according 
to  the  circumstances  and  motives  attending. — 1710. 

It  is  agreed  that  at  least  two  men  and  two  women 
Friends  be  appointed  in  each  of  their  respective  monthly 
meetings,  as  representatives  to  attend  the  service  of 
the  quarterly  meeting,  with  such  reports  in  writing, 
signed  by  their  clerks,  as  may  be  given  them  in  charge: 
also,  that  each  quarterly  meeting  appoint  a  suitable 
number  of  judicious  Friends  as  its  representatives, 
which  are  not  to  amount  to  more  than  would  be  in  the 
proportion  of  three  of  each  sex  to  each  monthly  meet- 
ing ;  to  attend  the  yearly  meeting  with  the  reports  and 
such  other  written  documents  as  may  be  specially  con- 
fided to  their  care.— 1719,  1834. 

It  is  earnestly  advised  and  desired,  that  all  Friends 
who  submit  to  these,  or  any  other  services  of  Society, 
may  be  punctual  in  their  attendance  thereon;  or,  if  pre- 
vented by  sickness,  or  any  other  unavoidable  occur- 
rence, that  they  be  careful  to  send  information  thereof; 
also,  that  those  who  are  under  appointments  to  meet- 
ings, do  not  withdraw  therefrom  before  the  conclusion, 
without  obtaining  the  meeting's  consent. — 1719. 


DISCIPLINE. 


53 


When  proposals  of  marriage  are  made,  if  any  near 
relations  of  the  parties  (who  are  not  in  membership) 
are  permitted  to  be  present,  they  should  withdraw  be- 
fore the  meeting  proceeds  to  any  other  business. — 
1755. 

If  a  member  under  dealing  removes  into  the  compass 
of  another  monthly  meeting;  or,  if  previous  to  or  after 
such  removal,  the  conduct  of  him  or  her  has  been  such 
as  to  require  their  being  dealt  with — and  their  resi- 
dence be  at  so  great  a  distance  as  to  render  it  incon- 
venient for  the  monthly  meeting  to  which  they  be- 
•  long,  it  should  by  minute  request  that  into  which  they 
are  removed,  to  treat  with  them  according  to  our  rules, 
and  to  report  the  effect  of  its  care ;  w^hen,  if  it  is  satisfac- 
tory, the  party  should  be  recommended  by  certificate; 
or  if  otherwise,  and  a  testimony  of  denial  is  issued,  a 
copy  thereof  should  be  sent  to  the  monthly  meeting 
within  the  limits  of  which  he  or  she  resides,  and  that 
meeting  is  to  appoint  two  or  more  Friends  to  give  them 
a  copy  of  the  said  testimony,  and  inform  them  of  their 
right  of  appeal. — 1806. 

If  the  individual  is  a  female,  the  women's  monthly 
meeting  is  by  minute  to  transmit  to  the  monthly  meet- 
ing of  women  Friends  w  ithin  the  limits  of  which  the 
person  resides,  clear  information  of  the  state  of  the 
case,  and  Vequest  its  care  in  dealing  with  her  on  their 
behalf;  and  when  the  monthly  meeting  removed  from, 
has  received  a  report  of  the  effect  of  this  labour,  they 
are  then  to  give  due  information  thereof  to  their  res- 


54 


DISCIPLINE. 


pective  men's  monthly  meeting,  in  order  that  the  busi- 
ness may  be  finished  as  before  directed. — 1834. 

After  a  charge  against  a  member  is,  by  the  prepar- 
ative meeting,  conchided  to  be  taken  to  the  monthly 
meeting,  he  or  she  should  not  be  permitted  to  sit  in 
any  of  our  meetings  for  Discipline,  till  the  case  is 
issued  to  the  satisfaction  of  the  monthly  meeting. — 
1S34. 

In  all  cases  thus  introduced  from  the  preparative  to 
the  monthly  meeting,  a  committee  should  be  appointed 
to  deal  with  the  offender,  in  order  to  the  convince- 
ment  of  his  or  her  understanding  and  right  restoration ; 
and  if,  in  the  prosecution  of  the  service,  it  should  come 
to  the  knowledge  of  the  committee,  that  there  has  been 
any  other  violation  of  our  testimony  and  Discipline  than 
is  stated  in  the  minute  of  the  preparative  meeting,  they 
should  treat  with  the  individual  thereon,  and  make  re- 
port accordingly  to  the  next  succeeding  monthly  meet- 
ing, and  of  the  effect  of  their  labour:  their  report,  or  the 
substance  of  it,  is  then  to  be  entered  upon  the  minutes, 
and  if  a  ground  of  hope  is  furnished  that  further  deal- 
ing may  be  beneficial,  the  case  should  be  continued  ; 
but  whenever  the  meeting,  after  deliberate,  weighty 
consideration,  is  satisfied  that  a  continued  extension 
of  care  and  labour  would  be  unavailing,  and  that  the 
due  maintenance  of  the  Disciphne  requires  fhe  case  to 
be  issued,  the  committee,  or  such  other  Friends  as  may 
be  judged  proper,  are  to  be  appointed  to  prepare  a 
testimony  of  disownment,  to  be  produced  at  the  next 


DISCIPLINE. 


55 


monthly  meeting  for  approbation ;  and  that  the  neces- 
sary care  be  taken  for  delivering  the  party  a  copy  of 
the  said  minute  or  testimony  of  disunion,  with  infor- 
mation of  his  or  her  right  of  appeal. — 1834. 

It  is  advised,  that  where  any  transgress  the  rules  of 
our  Discipline,  they  may,  without  partiality,  be  admo- 
nished and  sought  in  the  spirit  of  love  and  divine 
charity,  so  that  it  may  be  seen  by  all,  that  the  restor- 
ing spirit  of  meekness  and  Christian  love  abounds, 
before  church  censure  takes  place,  and  that  a  Gospel 
spirit  is  the  spring  and  motive  to  all  our  performances, 
as  well  in  Discipline  as  in  worship. — 1746  to  1770. 
And  in  all  cases  when  a  minute  or  testimony  of 
disunion  against  a  member,  has  been  .produced  and 
approved  in  a  monthly  meeting,  endeavours  should 
be  used  that  the  individual  be  furnished  with  a  copy 
thereof,  and  with  notification  of  his  or  her  right  of 
appeal. — 1834. 

It  is  earnestly  recommended,  that  in  conducting 
the  affairs  of  the  church,  we  ever  bear  in  mind, 
that  as  it  is  the  Lord's  work.  Friends  should  humbly 
and  reverently  endeavour  to  manage  them  in  the 
peaceable  spirit  and  wisdom  of  Jesus,  with  decency, 
forbearance,  and  love  to  each  other. 

As  to  the  rights  of  children,  whose  parents  have 
been  married  contrary  to  the  rules  of  our  Discipline; 
it  is  agreed  that  where  either  of  those  parents  remain 
out  of  membership,  their  children  should  not  be 


56 


DISCIPLINE. 


esteemed  members,  till  application  for  their  admission 
is  made  either  by  themselves,  or  by  their  parent,  pa- 
rents or  guardians  on  their  behalf,  and  the  monthly 
meeting  applied  to,  on  a  solid  consideration  of  the 
case,  is  easy  to  admit  them,  or  any  of  them. — 1762, 
1782. 

All  children  born  of  parents  who  have  been  married 
according  to  our  rules,  and  only  one  of  them  after- 
wards disowned;  and  such  children  as  are  born  after 
their  parents  have  both  become  members,  and  only 
one  of  them  subsequently  disowned,  are  to  be  consi- 
dered as  in  membership  with  us ;  but  where  persons 
who  have  accomplished  their  marriage  in  our  meet- 
ings have  botlj  become  disowned,  their  offspring,  born 
after  this  event,  are  not  to  be  considered  as  having 
a  right  among  us,  unless  those  parents  shall  have  be- 
come reinstated,  and  both  be  in  membership  at  the 
time  of  the  birth  of  any  such  child:  but  if  application 
is  made  for  the  admission  of  any  of  their  children,  the 
monthly  meeting,  on  solid  consideration  of  the  case, 
feeling  easy  therewith,  is  at  liberty  to  admit  them  or 
any  of  them.— 1762,  1806,  1834. 

If  any  member  of  our  religious  Society  shall  apply 
to  those  called  jugglers  or  fortune-tellers,  or  those 
who  by  colour  of  any  art  or  skill  whatsoever,  pretend 
to  a  knowledge  of  future  events,  hidden  transactions, 
or  where  things  lost  or  stolen  may  be  found;  or  if  any 
of  our  members  shall  use,  or  pretend  to  such  art  or 
skill,  it  is  advised  that  they  be  speedily  dealt  with; 


DISCIPLINE. 


57 


and  if  they  do  not  manifest  a  due  sense  of  their  evil 
conduct,  and  condemn  the  same,  that  they  be  testified 
against. — 1723. 

It  appearing  by  the  minutes  of  the  meeting  for  Suffer- 
ings, that  on  inspection  of  some  of  the  accounts  of 
sufferings  sent  up  by  the  quarterly  meetings,  consider- 
able difficulty  has  been  occasioned  by  those  accounts 
not  expressing,  with  sufficient  clearness,  what  the 
sufferings  mentioned  were  for:  it  is  now  desired,  that 
the  monthly  and  quarterly  meetings  may  in  future 
leave  out  of  their  reports,  any  instances  which  do  not 
appear  to  be  clearly  consistent  with  the  sense  of  this 
yearly  meeting ;  and  that  they  continue  to  collect  and 
send  up  their  accounts  of  sufferings  annually  as  here- 
tofore directed. — 1784. 

A  committee  should  be  annually  appointed  in  each 
of  our  quarterly  and  monthly  meetings,  for  the  nomi- 
nation of  clerks;  which  may  afford  opportunity  for 
their  being  seasonably  changed,  and  more  of  our 
qualified  members  exercised  in  those  services. — 1796. 

The  love,  power,  and  peaceable  spirit  of  the  Lord 
Jesus  Christ,  being  the  alone  true  authority  of  all  our 
meetings,  it  is  the  fervent  concern  of  this  meeting,  that 
they  may  be  held  under  the  sense  and  influence  of  that 
holy  unction.  We  affectionately  recommend,  that  in 
making  appointments  in  meetings  for  Discipline,  care 
may  be  taken  to  judge  of  the  qualifications  of  those 
who  are  employed  in  the  church. 

H 


58 


DISCIPLINE. 


The  more  we  experience  a  preparation  of  heart  for 
the  exercise  of  our  respective  gifts,  the  more  amply 
shall  we  evince  the  expression  of  the  tongue  to  be 
seasoned  with  that  living  virtue  and  divine  power, 
which  proceeds  from  our  Holy  Head ;  and  thus  in  con- 
ducting the  important  concerns  of  Society,  we  shall 
be  enabled  to  example  the  beloved  youth  in  a  manner 
which  will  demonstrate  to  them,  that  neither  tradition 
nor  a  mere  outward  education,  can  fitly  prepare  them 
for  successors  in  the  church  of  Christ. 

In  some  places  there  may  have  been  a  want  of  care, 
rightly  to  distinguish  and  seasonably  to  bring  into 
action,  the  talents  bestowed  upon  some  in  the  early 
stage  of  life ;  but  we  believe,  that  many  who  were  evi- 
dently under  the  forming  hand,  have  been  suddenly 
laid  hold  of,  and  introduced  into  service,  before  that 
preparation  of  heart  hath  been  sufficiently  experienced, 
which  leads  to  a  reliance  upon  divine  direction,  and 
redeems  from  a  confidence  in  the  natural  understand- 
ing: it  is  therefore  desired,  that  by  a  just  discrimina- 
tion of  times  and  seasons,  and  of  the  qualifications 
bestowed,  every  gift  may  be  rightly  exercised,  and  a 
succession  of  useful  members  preserved  in  every  rank 
in  the  church. 

We  are  concerned  that  the  management  of  our 
Christian  Discipline  be  not  committed  to  hands  un- 
clean; particularly  of  such  who  allow  or  connive  at 
undue  liberties  in  their  own  children  or  families.  "  If  a 
man,"  said  the  Apostle,  "  know  not  how  to  rule  his 


DISCIPLINE. 


59 


own  house,  how  shall  he  take  care  of  the  church  of 
God?"— 1795. 

Dear  friends,  be  patient  in  the  exercise  of  your  gifts 
and  services,  and  take  no  offence  at  any  time,  because 
what  seems  to  be  clear  to  you  is  not  presently  received 
by  others;  let  all  things  in  the  church  be  propounded 
with  an  awful  reverence  of  Him  that  is  the  head  and 
life  of  it;  who  said,  "  Where  two  or  three  are  gathered 
together  in  my  name,  there  am  I  in  the  midst  of  them." 
Therefore,  let  all  beware  of  their  own  spirits  and  keep 
in  a  gracious  temper,  that  so  they  may  be  fitted  for 
the  service  of  the  house  of  God,  whose  house  we  are, 
if  we  keep  upon  the  foundation  that  God  hath  laid ; 
and  such  he  will  build  up,  and  teach  how  to  build  up 
one  another  in  him.  And  as  every  member  must  feel 
life  in  himself,  and  all  from  one  Head,  this  life  will  not 
hurt  itself  in  any,  but  be  tender  of  itself  in  all ;  for  by 
this  one  life  of  the  word,  ye  were  begotten,  and  by  it 
ye  are  nourished  and  made  to  grow  into  your  several 
services  in  the  church  of  God.  It  is  no  man's  learning, 
nor  artificial  acquirements;  it  is  no  man's  riches,  nor 
greatness  in  this  world ;  it  is  no  man's  eloquence  or 
natural  wisdom,  that  makes  him  fit  for  government  in 
the  church  of  Christ:  all  his  endowments  must  be  sea- 
soned with  the  heavenly  salt,  his  spirit  be  subjected, 
and  his  gifts  pass  through  the  fire  of  God's  altar,  a 
sacrifice  to  his  praise  and  honour,  that  so  self  being 
baptised  into  death,  the  gifts  may  be  used  in  the 
power  of  the  resurrection  of  the  life  of  Jesus  in  him. 


GO  DISCIPLINE. 

As  the  use  and  design  of  prepamtive  meetings  is  in 
general  to  digest  and  prepare  business  as  occasion 
may  require,  which  may  be  proper  to  be  laid  before 
the  monthly  meeting,  Friends  should  be  careful  there- 
in, not  to  occasion  unnecessary  delays,  or  undertake 
to  decide  on  any  business  which  claims  attention  and 
care  in  monthly  meetings.  When  cases  are  agreed 
to  be  carried  forward,  they  should  be  entered  in 
"writing,  and  some  suitable  Friend  or  Friends  named 
to  produce  them  to  the  monthly  meetings;  and  such 
notes  thereof  should  be  carefully  preserved  by  clerks 
of  preparative  meetings,  as  to  said  meetings  may  ap- 
pear useful  and  right.  But  no  preparative  meeting 
shall  take  cognizance  of  proposals  of  marriage,  this 
being  exclusively  the  business  of  monthly  meetings. — 
1796. 


61 


DONATIONS,  BEaUESTS,  &c. 


Executors  and  trustees  concerned  in  wills  and  set- 
tlements, are  advised  to  a  faithful  and  punctual  dis- 
charge of  their  respective  trusts,  according  to  the 
intent  of  the  donors  and  testators;  and  both  they  and 
the  meetings  concerned  in  any  charitable  gifts,  lega- 
cies, or  bequests,  to  take  special  care  that  these  be 
not  perverted  or  appropriated  to  any  other  uses  than 
such  as  the  donors  or  testators  have  directed  and  en- 
joined by  legal  settlement,  will,  or  testament. — 1715, 
1796. 


62 


FAMILY  VISITS. 


As  the  visiting  of  Friends  in  their  families  in  the 
openings  of  heavenly  wisdom,  is  a  service  which  hath 
often  been  blessed  to  the  minds  of  the  visitors  and 
visited,  this  meeting  hath,  from  time  to  time,  recom- 
mended it  to  the  solid  attention  of  quarterly  and 
monthly  meetings:  and  it  is  desired,  that  concerns  of 
this  nature  may  be  tenderly  cherished,  and  those  who 
are  rightly  exercised  therein,  encouraged  to  move  for- 
ward in  due  season,  and  in  a  humble  dependance  on  the 
Shepherd  of  Israel,  who  not  only  puts  his  own  forth, 
but  goes  before  and  rewards  all  who  are  faithful  to 
his  appointments,  with  the  enriching  reward  of  sweet 
comfort  and  solid  peace. — 1737,  1806. 

If  the  concern  of  a  Friend  to  visit  the  families  of  a 
monthly  meeting  of  which  he  or  she  is  not  a  member, 
be  laid  before  and  approved  by  the  monthly  meeting 
where  he  or  she  belongs,  and  a  certificate  or  minute 
thereof  be  granted,  he  or  she,  previously  to  engaging 
in  the  visit,  is  to  spread  the  concern  before  the  monthly 
meeting  whose  families  are  proposed  to  be  visited; 
and  when  the  concurrence  thereof  is  also  obtained, 
the  necessary  care  should  be  extended  to  aid  him  or 
her  in  the  performance  thereof.  This  regulation  is 
also  to  extend  to  such  Friends,  as  may  come  from 
other  parts  on  religious  visits,  to  meetings  within  the 
limits  of  this  yearly  meeting. — 1834. 


63 


GAMING  AND  DIVERSIONS. 


As  our  time  passeth  swiftly  away,  and  our  delight 
ought  to  be  in  the  law  of  the  Lord,  it  is  advised 
that  a  w^atchful  care  be  exercised  over  our  youth  and 
others,  to  prevent  their  going  to  stage-plays,  horse 
races,  music,  dancing,  or  any  such  vain  sports  and 
pastimes;  and  being  concerned  in  lotteries,  wagering, 
or  other  species  of  gaming. 

And  if  any  of  our  members  fall  into  either  of  these 
practices,  and  are  not  prevailed  with  by  private  labour 
to  decline  them,  the  monthly  meetings  to  which  the 
offenders  belong  should  be  informed  thereof,  and,  if 
they  be  not  reclaimed  by  further  labour,  so  as  to  con- 
demn their  misconduct  to  the  satisfaction  of  the  meet- 
ing, it  should  proceed  to  testify  our  disunity  with 
them.— 1716  to  1773. 


64 


HIRELING  MINISTRY. 


Let  us  keep  in  remembrance,  that  it  is  under  the 
immediate  teaching  and  influence  of  the  Holy  Spirit, 
that  all  acceptable  worship  is  performed,  and  all  true 
Gospel  ministry  supplied;  that  this  pure  and  powerful 
influence,  in  vessels  sanctified  and  prepared  by  the 
Divine  hand,  is  the  essential  qualification  to  that 
work;  and  that  as  the  gift  is  divine,  the  service  is 
freely  and  faithfully  to  be  discharged,  without  any  view 
to  reward  from  man. 

It  is  directed,  that  where  any  of  our  members  arc 
so  regardless  of  this  testimony,  as  to  contribute  to  the 
support  or  encouragement  of  a  hireling  ministry,  that 
they  be  tenderly  laboured  with  to  convince  them  of 
their  error;  and  if  this  prove  ineffectual,  the  monthly 
meetings  to  which  they  belong  should  proceed  to  de- 
clare our  disunity  with  them;  such  conduct  being 
opposed  to  our  testimony  for  the  free  ministry  of  the 
Gospel,  which  is  "  without  money  and  without  price." 
—1757. 


65 


LAW. 


It  is  desired,  that  no  debtors  may  shelter  themselves 
under  such  of  our  rules,  as  are  designed  to  guard  us 
against  an  unkind  treatment  of  each  other,  unjustly 
hoping  to  be  thereby  put  out  of  the  reach  of  the  civil 
authority. — 1701. 

It  is  the  sense  of  this  meeting,  that  if  any  member 
thereof,  disregarding  the  Gospel  order  prescribed  by 
our  Discipline,  shall  arrest  or  sue  at  law  another 
member,  (not  being  under  such  a  necessity  so  to  do, 
as  may  satisfy  the  overseers  or  other  solid  and  judi- 
cious Friends  of  the  meeting  to  which  the  latter  be- 
longs,) he  or  she  in  so  doing,  doth  depart  from  the 
peaceable  principle  we  make  profession  of;  and  if,  on 
being  treated  with  by  the  monthly  meeting  to  which 
they  belong,  they  cannot  be  prevailed  with  to  with- 
draw the  suit  and  pay  the  costs  thereof,  they  should 
be  disowned.— 1710,  1719. 


I 


66 


LOVE  AND  UNITY. 


Our  Lord  Jesus  Christ  graciously  instructed  his 
followers  in  the  necessity  of  a  strict  adherence  to  his 
sacred  precepts,  that  growing  up  into  him  in  all  things, 
which  is  the  head,  they  might  be  a  compact  body, 
edifying  itself  in  love.  "  If  ye  keep  my  command- 
ments, ye  shall  abide  in  my  love."  "This  is  my 
commandment,  that  ye  love  one  another,  as  I  have 
loved  you." — It  is  therefore  the  judgment  of  this 
meeting,  that  if  any  in  membership  with  us,  should 
so  far  lose  the  sense  of  the  nature  and  operation  of 
Divine  love,  the  bond  of  Christian  brotherhood,  as  to 
foment,  encourage  or  promote  division  or  separation 
among  us,  or  seek  to  beguile  and  draw  away  an}'  of 
the  members  from  a  due  subjection  to  the  salutary 
order  and  Discipline  established  in  our  religious  So- 
ciety, they  should  be  speedily  treated  with  without 
partiality,  in  order  for  their  instruction  and  recovery; 
and  if  they  are  not  brought  to  such  a  sense  of  their 
misconduct  as  to  condemn  the  same,  to  the  satisfac- 
tion of  the  monthly  meeting,  they  should  be  testified 
against. — 1834. 

It  is  advised,  that  where  there  is  any  appearance  of 
dissension  and  variance,  or  of  unkind  resentment  and 
shyness  among  our  members,  the  parties  be  timely 


LOVE  AND  UNITY. 


67 


and  tenderly  apprised  of  the  danger  to  which  they 
thereby  expose  both  themselves  and  others,  and  earn- 
estly exhorted  to  mutual  condescension  and  forgive- 
ness, becoming  the  followers  of  Christ.  And  if  any, 
notwithstanding  such  endeavours  for  their  help,  con- 
tinue to  manifest  an  implacable  enmity  to  others,  the 
overseers,  or  other  solid  Friends  of  the  preparative 
or  monthly  meeting  they  belong  to,  should  be  informed 
thereof,  and  labour  further  with  them:  when,  if  they 
still  prove  inflexible,  they  ought  to  be  testified  against 
as  out  of  the  unity  of  the  Body — the  very  end  of 
whose  existence  is  the  promotion  of  peace  on  earth, 
and  good  will  amongst  men. — 1719,  1806. 


68 


MARRIAGES. 


It  is  advised  that  all  young  and  unmarried  people  in 
membership  with  us,  previously  to  their  making  any 
procedure  in  order  to  marriage,  do  seriously  and 
humbly  wait  upon  the  Lord  for  his  counsel  and  direc- 
tion in  this  important  concern;  and  when  favoured 
with  satisfactory  clearness  therein,  they  should  early 
acquaint  their  parents  or  guardians  with  their  inten- 
tions, and  wait  for  their  consent ;  thus  preservation 
from  the  dangerous  bias  of  forward,  brittle,  and  un- 
certain afiections,  would  be  experienced,  to  the  real 
benefit  of  the  parties,  and  the  comfort  of  their  friends. 
And  it  is  earnestly  recommended  to  Friends,  that  they 
tenderly  and  carefully  watch  over  the  youth,  and  ex- 
tend seasonable  caution  and  admonition,  as  occasions 
may  require. — 1682. 

All  single  persons,  being  about  to  marry  at  a  dis- 
tance from  home,  are  to  procure  certificates  from  the 
monthly  meeting  they  belong  to,  of  their  right  of 
membership  and  clearness  from  any  other  person  in 
respect  to  marriage,  and  also  obtain  the  consent  of 
their  parents  or  guardians  therein ;  and  none  are  to  be 
permitted  to  join  themselves  in  marriage,  until  such 
certificates,  and  the  consent  of  their  parents  or  guar- 


MARRIAGES. 


69 


dians  thereto,  be  also  signified  in  person,  or  by  writing, 
wliere  it  is  practicable,  or  may  be  reasonably  obtained. 
—1682. 

No  monthly  meeting  should  permit  any  marriages  to 
be  proposed  in  the  said  meeting,  sooner  than  a  year 
after  the  death  of  husband  or  wife. — 1749. 

It  is  the  sense  of  this  meeting,  that  if  any  member 
do  join  in  marriage  with  such  as  are  not  in  member- 
ship with  us,  or  in  any  other  way  than  with  the  con- 
sent and  approbation  of  the  monthly  meeting,  they 
should  be  dealt  with  agreeably  to  our  Discipline,  and, 
if  not  brouorht  to  a  sense  of  their  error,  disowned. — 
1702  to  1721. 

On  serious  consideration  concerning  marriages,  this 
meeting  being  tender  in  that  respect,  advises,  that  no 
misdemeanour  be  treasured  up  against  a  person  until 
the  time  of  presenting  marriage,  and  then  started, 
though  perhaps  long  before  known  to  the  objector; 
which  is  a  wrong  thincr,  and  should  be  checked  and  dis- 
couraged  in  all  meetings. — 1712. 

It  is  recommended  to  monthly  meetings,  that  ac- 
cording to  the  ancient  decent  practice  amongst  Friends, 
they  take  care  that  such  men  and  women  Friends,  who 
make  or  admit  of  proposals  of  marriage  with  each 
other,  do  not  dwell  in  the  same  house,  from  the  time 
that  they  begin  to  be  so  concerned,  until  the  marriage 
is  accomplished. — 1714. 


70  MARRIAGES. 

Advised,  that  marriages  be  not  accomplished  in  or 
immediately  after  any  of  our  monthly  meetings,  or 
other  meetings  for  Discipline,  or  on  first  days.  And  it 
is  desired  that,  on  these  occasions.  Friends  in  affluent 
circumstances,  particularly,  may  be  careful  to  set  a  be- 
coming and  encouraging  example  of  moderation;  and 
that  all  may  avoid  unnecessarily  expensive  entertain- 
ments and  large  companies,  and  especially  guard 
against  inviting  such  as  guests,  who  are  unlikely  to 
conform  to  the  order  of  our  religious  Society. — 1716. 

Let  such  of  our  members  be  admonished,  who  keep 
company,  in  order  for  marriage,  with  persons  not  of 
our  Society ;  or  with  any  bound  servants  or  appren- 
tices, without  the  leave  of  their  masters  or  mistresses ; 
or  who  are  either  present  themselves,  or  consent  to 
their  children  being  present  at  marriages  of  those  not 
in  membership,  which  are  accomplished  by  the  assist- 
ance of  a  priest.  And  where  any  are  present  at  the 
marriage  of  a  member,  accomplished  either  by  the 
official  interference  of  a  priest,  or  in  any  other  way 
out  of  our  comely  order,  they  are  to  be  dealt  with, 
and  where  they  are  not  brought  to  a  sense  of  their  error, 
let  them  be  testified  against. — 1719. 

If  any  of  our  members  should  attend  the  meetings 
of  those  who  have  separated  from  us,  and  who  have 
set  up  meetings  contrary  to  the  order  and  Discipline  of 
our  religious  Society ;  or  should  attend  any  of  the 
marriages  accomplished  among  the  said  people,  or 
sign  the  certificates  issued  on  those  occasions;  as 


MARRIAGES. 


71 


it  is  giving  countenance  to,  and  acknowledging  those 
meetings,  as  though  they  were  the  meetings  of  Friends, 
this  meeting  declares  that  such  conduct  is  of  evil  ten- 
dency, and  repugnant  to  the  harmony  and  well  being 
of  our  religious  Society;  and  where  such  instances 
occur,  Friends  are  desired  to  extend  brotherly  care  and 
labour,  that  the  individuals  may  be  instructed  and  re- 
claimed; and  if  those  endeavours  prove  ineffectual, 
monthly  meetings  should  testify  against  them. — 1833. 

It  is  the  judgment  of  this  meeting,  that  where  pa- 
rents or  guardians  have  approved  the  visits  or  addresses 
of  a  man  (a  member  of  our  religious  Society)  to  any 
of  their  children  or  those  under  their  care,  that  they 
do  not  retract 'the  same,  without  giving  such  reasons 
as  shall  be  satisfactory  to  the  monthly  meeting  whereto 
they  belong. — 1719. 

For  the  accomplishment  of  marriage,  it  is  directed 
that  the  following  order  be  observed. — If  both  parties 
belong  to  the  same  monthly  meeting,  the  men's  and 
women's  monthly  meetings  should  be  informed  of  their 
intentions ;  and  the  man  at  a  proper  time  be  accom- 
panied into  the  women's  meeting,  by  a  suitable  Friend 
nominated  thereto — there  the  parties  are  first  to  de- 
clare, that  "With  Divine  permission,  and  Friends' 
approbation,  they  intend  marriage  with  each  otiier" — 
whereupon,  two  women  Friends  should  be  appointed 
by  minute  to  make  the  usual  inquiry  respecting  the 
woman ;  and  then  proceeding  to  the  men's  meeting, 
they  should  repeat,  or  make,  the  same  declaration 


72 


MARRIAGES. 


there,  and  two  men  Friends  be  in  like  manner  ap- 
pointed to  inquire  concerning  the  man.  If  the  parties 
have  parents  or  guardians  present,  their  consent  should 
be  expressed,  or  if  absent,  the  same  should  be  signified 
in  writing;  or,  if  the  man  is  a  member  of  another 
monthly  meeting,  the  consent  of  his  parents,  if  he  have 
any,  should  be  produced  in  writing,  either  then  or  at 
the  next  meeting,  with  a  certificate  from  his  monthly 
meeting,  of  his  clearness  from  other  hke  engagements. 
If  the  woman  be  a  widow  having  children,  two  or 
more  Friends  should  be  appointed  in  the  meeting  of 
which  she  is  a  member,  to  see  that  the  rights  of  her 
children  are  legally  secured.  At  the  next  meeting,  if 
the  committees  report  that  carefiil  inquiry  has  been 
made,  and  no  obstruction  to  the  further  proceeding  of 
the  parties  appears,  the  meeting  is  to  leave  them  at 
liberty  to  accomplish  their  marriage  according  to  our 
rules,  and  appoint  two  Friends  of  each  sex,  to  attend 
and  see  that  good  order  is  observed. 

It  is  further  advised,  that  the  said  marriage  be  ac- 
complished decently,  gravely,  and  weightily;  and  that 
the  parties  themselves,  their  parents,  and  others  con- 
cerned, do  take  care  at  the  houses  or  places  where 
they  go  after  the  meeting  is  over,  that  no  reproach 
arise,  or  occasion  of  offence  be  given,  by  any  intem- 
perate or  immoderate  feasting  or  drinking,  or  by  any 
tmseemly,  wanton,  or  rude  discourses  or  actions;  but 
that  all  behave  with  such  sobriety  as  becomes  a 
people  fearing  God;  and  that  the  company  retire  to 
their  homes  in  seasonable  time.    And  if  any  thing  to 


MARRIAGES. 


73 


the  contrary  is  observed,  the  overseers,  or  other  con- 
cerned Friends  present,  ought,  as  speedily  as  they 
conveniently  can,  to  take  such  aside  who  make  any 
breach  upon  good  order,  and  in  brotherly  love  ad- 
monish them  to  a  better  behaviour;  and  the  said 
overseers  are  to  make  report  to  the  next  monthly 
meeting,  whether  this  advice  concerning  decency  and 
order  be  observed,  and  take  care  that  the  marriage 
certificate  be  recorded. 

The  form  of  which  certificate  shall  be  as  follows: 

Whereas,  A.  B.  of  ,  in  the  county  of 

 ,  in  ,  son  of  C.  B.  of 

 and  H.  his  wife;  and 

D.  E.  daughter  of  F.  E.  of  

and  M.  his  wife,  having  declared  their  intentions  of 
marriage  with  each  other,  before  a  monthly  meeting 

of  the  religious  society  of  Friends,  held  at  

 ,  according  to  the  good  order  used  among 

them,  (where  the  parties  are  under  the  care  of  parents  or 
guardians  add)  and  having  consent  of  parents  or 
guardians  concerned,  (as  the  case  is)  their  said  propo- 
sal of  marriage  was  allowed  of  by  the  said  meeting. 
Now  these  are  to  certify  whom  it  may  concern,  that 
for  the  full  accomplishment  of  their  said  intentions, 

this  day  of  the  month,  in  the  year 

of  our  Lord  ,  they,  the  said  A.  B.  and  D.  E. 

appeared  in  a  public  meeting  of  the  said  people,  held 

at  aforesaid ;  and  the  said  A.  B.  taking 

the  said  D.  E.  by  the  hand,  did,  on  this  solemn  occa- 

K 


74 


MARRIAGES. 


sion,  openly  declare,  that  he  took  her,  the  said  D.  E. 
to  be  his  wife,  promising,  with  Divine  assistance,  to 
be  unto  her  a  lovinjj  and  faithful  husband  until  death 
shall  separate  them;  and  then,  in  the  same  assembly, 
the  said  D.  E.  did  in  like  manner  declare,  that  she 
took  him,  the  said  A.  B.  to  be  her  husband,  promis- 
ing, with  Divine  assistance,  to  be  unto  him  a  loving 
and  faithful  wife,  until  death  shall  separate  them. 
And  moreover,  they,  the  said  A.  B.  and  D.  E.  (she 
according  to  the  custom  of  marriage,  assuming  the 
name  of  her  husband)  did  as  a  further  confirmation 
thereof,  then  and  there  to  these  presents  set  their 
hands. 

And  we  whose  names  are  also  hereunto  subscribed, 
being  present  at  the  solemnization  of  the  said 
marriage  and  subscription,  have,  as  witnesses 
thereto,  set  our  hands  the  day  and  year  above 
written. 

A.  B. 
D.  B. 

That  the  marriage  of  persons  too  near  akin  may, 
as  much  as  in  us  lies,  be  prevented,  this  meeting  con- 
cludes, that  no  marriage  between  first  cousins,  nor 
between  a  man  and  his  deceased  wife's  half-sister, 
shall  be  permitted  aniong  us;  and  that,  where  any 
person  or  persons  so  circumstanced  shall  intermarry, 
their  so  doing  shall  be  considered  as  a  relinquishment 
of  their  connection  with  the  Society,  and  they  be  ac- 
cordingly disowned  by  the  monthly  meetings  of  which 


MARRIAGES. 


75 


they  are  members.  And  it  is  further  concluded,  that, 
if  any  such  persons  shall  afterwards  apply  to  the 
monthly  meeting  which  disowned  him  or  her,  for  rein- 
statement, the  said  meeting  is  not  to  accede  to  the 
proposal,  until  the  case  be  represented  to  the  quarterly 
meeting,  and  its  consent  and  approbation  obtained, 
after  being  well  assured  that  the  parties  are  brought 
to  a  due  sense  of  their  transgression,  manifested  by 
uprightness  of  life  and  conversation. — 1721. 

The  term  first  cousins^  fully  applies  to  every  descrip- 
tion of  grand  children  descended  from  one  common 
parent. — 1807. 

It  is  advised,  that  parents  exercise  a  religious  care 
in  watching  over  their  children,  and  in  endeavouring 
to  guard  them  against  improper  connections  in  mar- 
riage; that  they  be  not  anxious  to  obtain  for  them 
large  portions  and  settlements,  but  that  they  be  joined 
with  persons  of  religious  inclinations,  suitable,  disposi- 
tions and  diligence  in  their  business,  which  are  more 
necessary  to  a  comfortable  life  in  a  married  state. — 
1723. 

The  breaches  of  our  testimony  against  going  from 
amongst  us  in  the  weighty  engagement  of  marriage, 
being  often  for  want  of  an  early  care  in  parents,  and 
those  who  have  the  important  charge  of  educating  the 
youth  under  their  trust,  early  to  admonish  and  instruct 
them  in  the  principles  of  Truth,  and  to  impress  their 
minds  with  the  duty  of  religiously  observing  them;  as 


76 


MARRIAGES. 


much  as  possible  restraining  them  from  such  company 
as  is  Hkely  to  entangle  their  affections  in  an  improper 
manner,  we  therefore  tenderly  advise  Friends  in  all 
quarters  to  an  increasing  care  over  the  youth,  that  the 
consistency  of  our  principles  in  all  respects  with  the 
nature  of  true  religion,  may  be  impressed  on  their 
tender  minds,  by  upright  examples,  as  well  as  by  pre- 
cepts ;  and  that  where  there  is  apparent  danger  of  the 
affections  of  any  being  improperly  entangled,  and  the 
care  of  parents  or  guardians,  or  those  who  have  the 
oversight  of  them,  appears  insufficient  to  prevent  their 
taking  imprudent  steps  in  the  accomplishment  of  mar- 
riage, that  timely  application  be  made  for  the  help  of 
their  friends. — 1761. 

The  too  ready  acceptance  of  papers  of  acknow- 
ledgment from  such  persons  who  have  accomplished 
their  marriages  out  of  the  order  of  Society,  being  of 
injurious  consequence,  and  a  cause  of  much  concern 
and  exercise  to  this  meeting,  it  is  earnestly  recom- 
mended to  monthly  meetings,  that  they  be  careful 
speedily  to  proceed  to  put  the  rules  of  our  Discipline 
in  practice  against  such  offenders:  and  when  papers 
of  acknowledgment  and  condemnation  are  offered, 
such  meetings  should  be  well  assured  that  they  pro- 
ceed from  a  true  ground  of  sincerity  and  conviction 
in  the  party,  manifested  by  a  consistency  in  hfe  and 
conversation. — 1762. 

Monthly  meetings  are  authorised  to  give  forth  tes- 
timonies of  denial  against  such  of  their  members,  who 


MARRIAGES. 


77 


consent  to,  connive  at,  or  encourage  the  marriage  of 
their  children  or  those  under  their  care  (members  of 
our  rehgious  Society)  contrary  to  the  good  order 
estabhshed  amongst  us;  if,  after  Christian  and  bro- 
therly labour  with  them,  they  are  not  brought  to  a 
due  sense  of  their  error,  and  a  satisfactory  acknow- 
ledgment of  the  same. — 1792. 


78 


MEETING  HOUSES. 


It  is  recommended  to  quarterly  and  monthly  meet- 
ings, frequently  to  inspect  the  titles  of  meeting  houses, 
burial  grounds,  and  other  estates  which  have  been 
vested  in  trustees,  and  by  them  held  for  the  use  and 
benefit  of  the  Society  at  large,  or  of  any  of  those 
meetings;  so  that  if  it  should  appear  needful,  by  the 
death  of  any  such  trustees  or  otherwise,  due  and  sea- 
sonable care  may  be  taken  to  appoint  some  others  to 
the  trust;  whereby  future  difficulties,  and  the  risk  of 
being  deprived  of  such  estates,  may  be  avoided. 

And  it  is  further  recommended,  that  quarterly  and 
monthly  meetings  respectively,  as  the  case  may  re- 
quire, keep  exact  records  of  all  such  trusts  and  con- 
veyances; also,  that  a  clear  and  regular  account  be 
kept  by  each  respective  meeting,  of  the  place  where, 
and  the  persons  with  whom  the  papers,  minutes  and 
records  belonging  to  our  religious  Society,  are  from 
time  to  time  deposited;  wherein  due  care  should  be 
taken  to  lodge  them  with  suitable  Friends. — 1796. 


79 


MEETING  FOR  SUFFERINGS. 


In  order  that  this  yearly  meeting,  with  its  several 
branches,  might  be  properly  represented  in  the  inter- 
vals thereof,  on  emergent  occasions,  a  meeting  was 
instituted  in  the  year  1756,  by  the  name  of  the  "Meet- 
ing for  Sufferings:"  which  it  was  agreed  should  con- 
sist of  twelve  Friends  appointed  by  the  yearly  meeting 
(living  in  or  near  Philadelphia,  for  the  convenience  of 
getting  soon  together)  and  also  of  four  Friends  chosen 
by  each  of  the  quarterly  meetings ;  who  w  ere  directed 
to  meet  together  in  Philadelphia  forthwith,  for  the 
regulation  of  its  future  meetings;  which  are  subject  to 
the  following  rules: 

First. — The  said  meeting  shall  keep  fair  minutes 
of  all  its  proceedings,  and  annually  lay  them  before 
the  yearly  meeting. 

Second. — No  less  number  than  twelve  of  the  mem- 
bers attending,  shall  constitute  a  meeting  capable  of 
transacting  any  business. 

Third. — On  all  occasions  of  uncommon  import- 
ance, previous  notice  thereof  shall  be  given  or  sent  to 
all  the  members. 


80 


MEETING  FOR  SUFFERINGS. 


Fourth. — In  case  of  the  decease  of  any  Friend  or 
Friends,  appointed  either  by  the  yearly  meeting  or 
quarterly  meetings,  or  of  their  declining  or  neglecting 
their  attendance  for  the  space  of  twelve  months,  the 
meeting  for  Sufferings  (if  it  be  thought  expedient)  may 
choose  others  in  his  or  their  stead,  to  serve  to  the  time 
of  the  next  yearly  meeting,  or  till  the  places  of  those 
who  have  represented  the  quarterly  meetings,  shall  be 
supplied  by  new  appointments. 

As  a  change  in  the  representation  of  quarterly 
meetings  is  not  contemplated,  except  in  the  instances 
stated  in  this  rule,  it  is  therefore  affectionately  desired, 
that  quarterly  meetings  may  be  weighty  in  their  con- 
sideration and  appointments,  that  hence,  such  Friends 
may  be  selected,  who,  by  a  steady  adherence  to  our 
Christian  principles  and  testimonies,  have  become  in 
good  degree  qualified  to  fulfil  the  services  which  de- 
volve on  this  important  station. — 1834. 

Fifth. — The  said  meeting  may  sit  on  its  own  ad- 
journments, and  order  these,  as  well  as  the  times  of 
its  stated  meetings,  (if  these  do  not  exceed  three 
months)  according  to  the  business  before  them. 

Sixth. — The  said  meeting  is  not  to  meddle  with  any 
matter  of  faith  or  discipline,  which  has  not  been  de- 
termined by  the  yearly  meeting. 

The  further  services  confided  to  the  said  meeting 
for  Sufferings,  are: 


MEETING  FOR  SUFFERINGS. 


81 


First. — In  general  to  represent  this  yearly  meeting, 
and  to  appear  on  its  hehalf  in  all  cases  where  the 
cause  of  Truth,  or  the  interest  or  reputation  of  our 
religious  Society  may  render  it  needful. 

Second. — To  take  the  oversight  and  inspection  of 
all  writings  proposed  to  be  printed  relative  to  our  re- 
ligious principles  or  testimonies;  and  to  promote  or 
suppress  the  same  at  their  discretion;  also  to  print 
and  distribute  any  writings  already  published  by  the 
Society,  or  which  may  be  offered  for  inspection  as 
aforesaid,  and  approved. 

Third. — To  inspect  and  explain  titles  to  land,  or 
other  estate,  belonging  to  any  of  our  meetings;  also, 
charitable  legacies  and  donations;  and  to  give  such 
advice  respecting  the  same  as  may  appear  to  be 
necessary. 

Fourth. — To  receive  from  the  several  quarterly 
meetings  their  annual  accounts  of  sufTerings,  and  also 
such  memorials  concerning  deceased  Friends,  as  those 
meetings  may  have  concurred  with:  that  when  ex- 
amined and  approved,  they  may  be  laid  before  the 
yearly  meeting. 

Fifth. — To  extend  such  advice  and  assistance  to 
any  individuals  under  sufferings  for  our  testimonies, 
as  their  cases  may  require;  and,  if  necessary,  to  apply 
to  the  government,  or  persons  in  authority,  on  their 
behalf. 

L 


82 


MEETING  FOR  SUFFERINGS. 


Sixlh. — To  correspond  with  the  meeting  for  Suffer- 
ings in  London  or  elsewhere,  on  the  common  concerns 
of  the  Society. 

On  sohd  consideration  it  is  agreed,  that  though 
none  are  properly  members  of  the  meeting  for  Suffer- 
ings, but  such  who  are  appointed  by  this  yearly  meet- 
ing, or  by  the  several  quarterly  meetings;  yet,  that 
approved  ministers,  and  members  of  any  other  meet- 
ing for  Sufferings  corresponding  with  this,  be  permit- 
ted to  attend  when  inclined  so  to  do. — 1796. 

Accounts  of  sufferings  to  be  forwarded  to  the  meet- 
ing for  Sufferings,  are  to  be  preserved  and  recorded 
agreeably  to  the  practice  of  our  ancient  Friends, 
reciting  the  sums  demanded,  the  kind  and  amount  of 
property  taken,  by  whom  the  distraints  were  made, 
and  the  authority  under  which  the  officers  acted. — 
1807. 


83 


MEETINGS  FOR  WORSHIP. 


Dear  Friends,  keep  all  your  meetings  in  the  autho- 
rity, wisdom  and  power  of  Truth,  and  unity  of  the 
blessed  Spirit ;  and  the  God  of  peace  be  with  you. — 
And  it  is  advised,  that  such  as  come  late  to  meeting, 
or  when  there  fall  asleep,  or  are  restless,  or  do  not 
stay  in  the  meeting,  but  go  forth  unnecessarily,  or 
otherwise  demean  themselves  unbecoming  our  holy 
profession  on  those  solemn  occasions,  be  tenderly  and 
seasonably  admonished. — 1694,  1695. 

We  exhort  all  to  a  Christian  exercise  and  zeal  for 
the  performance  of  Avorship  to  Almighty  God;  and  as 
we  are  not  capable  in  our  own  strength  to  perform 
this  great  duty,  we  recommend  to  a  diligent  waiting 
in  true  silence  and  retirement  of  mind,  for  the  renewed 
sense  of  the  inward  power  and  virtue  of  his  Spirit, 
whereby  alone  we  can  be  qualified  to  worship  him  in 
an  acceptable  manner.  Let  our  faithfulness  and  sin- 
cerity herein  appear,  by  the  humility,  meekness  and 
circumspection  of  our  lives  and  conversation,  adorning 
the  doctrines  and  principles  of  Truth,  as  declared  by 
Christ  and  his  Apostles:  those  who  have  been  pre- 
served in  faithfulness  therein,  having  to  testify  from 
blessed  experience,  that  it  hath  been  very  profitable; 
and  therefore  cannot  be  easy  without  encouraging  and 


84 


MEETINGS  FOR  WORSHIP. 


putting  forward  their  children,  apprentices  and  serv- 
ants to  this  rehgious  duty,  as  well  as  other  behaviour 
consistent  therewith.  And  if  this  useful  practice  was 
more  generally  attended  to,  it  would  do  more  for  us 
and  them  than  any  outward  acquisition  of  wealth; 
and  without  doubt,  some  of  those  who  have  been 
placed  under  our  direction,  may  with  thankfulness 
have  to  view  our  pious  care  in  taking  them  from 
worldly  business,  to  seek  a  city  eternal  in  the  heavens. 
— 174G,  17C0. 

This  meeting  recommends,  that  Friends  who  are 
exercised  in  the  Discipline,  would  early  extend  their 
brotherly  love  and  care,  in  visiting  such  amongst  us 
who  neglect  their  duty  in  attending  our  meetings  for 
public  worship.  And  as  a  wilful  neglect  of  this  im- 
portant duty,  is  a  manifest  evidence  of  ingratitude  to 
the  Divine  Being,  contrary  to  the  example  and  prac- 
tice of  the  primitive  believers  in  Christ,  and  our  reli- 
gious testimony,  it  is  the  judgment  of  this  meeting, 
that  as  such  do  thereby  disunite  themselves  from 
Christian  fellowship  with  us,  monthly  meetings,  after 
having  fully  discharged  their  duty  towards  them,  and 
finding  their  endeavours  to  reclaim  them  ineffectual, 
should  testify  our  disunion  with  them. — 1763,  1771. 

But  if  such,  who  have  thus  been  long  regardless  of 
their  religious  duty,  should,  after  repeated  labour  by 
the  monthly  meeting,  be  induced  to  attend  some  of 
our  meetings  for  Divine  worship,  they  ought,  before 
they  can  be  considered  as  restored  to  unity  with  us, 


MEETINGS  FOR  WORSHIP. 


85 


to  make  an  acknowledgment  thereto  of  their  having 
swerved  from  a  just  sense  of  their  dependant  condi- 
tion, and  a  right  estimate  of  the  bond  of  Christian 
communion. — 1834. 

It  is  the  sense  and  judgment  of  this  meeting,  that 
where  a  drowsy  spirit  appears  upon  any  of  the  mem- 
bers in  our  reUgious  meetings,  they  may  be  laboured 
with  for  their  help;  and  where  it  is  given  way  to,  that 
quarterly,  monthly  and  other  meetings,  should  be  cau- 
tious of  employing  such  in  the  weighty  services  of 
the  Discipline — 1789,  1834. 


86 


MEMORIALS. 


Quarterly  and  monthly  meetings  are  directed  to 
furnish  this  meeting  annually,  with  an  account  of  the 
decease  of  such  of  their  members,  in  the  station  of 
ministers  or  elders,  as  may  have  taken  place  within  the 
year.  And  if  any  monthly  meeting  should,  under  solid 
consideration,  believe  it  necessary  to  prepare  a  me- 
morial concerning  any  deceased  member  thereof,  it  is 
to  go  to  the  respective  quarterly  meeting,  where,  being 
duly  weighed  and  agreed  to,  it  is  then  to  be  forwarded 
to  the  meeting  for  Sufferings  for  inspection  and  appro- 
bation, previous  to  its  being  laid  before  the  yearly 
meeting.— 1755,  178G. 


87 


MINISTERS  AND  ELDERS, 

AND 

MEETINGS  OF  MINISTERS  AND  ELDERS. 


It  is  our  earnest  desire,  that  ministers  and  elders 
may  be  as  nursing  fathers  and  mothers  to  those  that 
are  young  in  the  ministry,  and  with  all  care  and  dili- 
gence advise,  admonish,  and  if  they  see  occasion,  re- 
prove them  in  a  tender  and  Christian  spirit,  according 
to  the  rules  of  our  Discipline  and  counsel  of  Friends 
in  that  respect;  also  exhort  them  frequently  to  read 
the  Holy  Scriptures,  and  reverently  seek  the  mind  of 
the  Spirit  of  Truth,  to  open  the  mysteries  thereof,  that, 
abiding  in  a  simple  and  patient  submission  to  the  veill 
of  God,  and  keeping  down  to  the  openings  of  Divine 
love  and  life  in  themselves,  they  may  witness  a  gradual 
growth  in  their  gifts,  and  be  preserved  from  extending 
their  declarations  further  than  they  find  the  life  and 
power  of  Truth  to  bear  them  up. — 1723. 

Our  advice  to  all  our  ministers  is,  that  they  be  fre- 
quent in  reading  the  Scriptures  of  the  old  and  new 
testaments;  and  if  any  in  the  course  of  their  ministry, 
shall  misapply,  or  draw  unsound  inferences  or  wrong 
conclusions  from  the  text,  or  shall  promulgate  any 
doctrine  which  goes  to  lay  waste  any  of  our  Christian 


88 


MINISTERS  AND  ELDERS. 


principles  or  testimonies,  let  them  be  admonished  by 
the  elders,  and  if  they  prove  refractory  and  refuse  to 
acknowledge  their  faults,  let  them  be  further  dealt  with 
in  the  wisdom  of  Truth,  by  the  preparative  meeting  of 
ministers  and  elders ;  and  if  this  labour  is  unavailing, 
the  case  should  be  reported  to  the  quarterly  meeting 
of  ministers  and  elders,  and  a  few  Friends  be  there 
appointed  to  extend  further  care  therein:  but  if  at  that 
time  there  should  be  no  preparative  meeting  of  minis- 
ters and  elders  in  existence  there,  the  elders  are  to 
state  the  case  to  the  quarterly  meeting  of  ministers 
and  elders,  which,  as  is  already  directed,  is  to  take 
the  necessary  care;  and  if  this  brotherly  concern  and 
endeavour  has  not  the  desired  effect,  then  the  case  is 
to  be  transmitted  to  the  monthly  meeting  for  Disci- 
pline; upon  which  he  or  she  is  no  longer  to  be  consi- 
dered as  having  a  right  or  place  in  the  meeting  of 
ministers  and  elders. — 1723,  1834. 

If  any  minister  or  elder  should  in  their  conduct  or 
conversation,  transgress  any  of  the  rules  of  our  Disci- 
pline, they  are  to  be  treated  with  in  the  same  manner 
as  any  other  members  of  our  religious  Society;  and 
whenever  the  case  is  introduced  into  the  monthly 
meeting  for  Discipline,  such  minister  or  elder  is  not  to 
attend  any  meeting  of  ministers  and  elders  or  meeting 
for  Discipline,  nor  be  considered  as  in  either  of  those 
stations,  until  he  or  she  shall  have  made  satisfaction 
to  the  monthly  meeting,  and  be  again  recommended 
or  appointed  as  at  first. — 1834. 


311NISTERS  AND  ELDERS. 


89 


As  the  occasion  of  our  religious  meetings  is  solemn, 
a  care  should  ever  be  maintained  to  guard  against  any 
thing  that  would  tend  to  disorder  or  confusion  therein. 
When  any  think  they  have  aught  against  what  is 
publicly  delivered  in  those  meetings,  they  should  speak 
to  the  party  privately  and  in  an  orderly  manner.  And 
if  any  shall  oppose  a  ministering  Friend  in  his  or  her 
preaching  or  exhortation,  or  keep  on  the  hat,  or  show 
anj^  remarkable  dislike  to  such  when  engaged  in  prayer, 
let  them  be  speedily  admonished  in  such  manner  as 
may  be  requisite,  unless  the  person  against  whom  the 
uneasiness  is  expressed,  has  been  disowned  by  a 
monthly  meeting,  or  his  or  her  public  appearances 
have  been  disapproved  by  the  elders. — 1719. 

This  meeting  agrees,  that  each  monthly  meeting 
choose  two  or  more  Friends  of  each  sex  to  sit  with 
the  ministers,  and  they  together  to  compose  a  meet- 
ing, to  be  denominated  a  preparative  meeting  of  minis- 
ters and  elders;  taking  care  that  the  persons  chosen 
for  that  service,  be  Friends  of  solid  judgment,  pru- 
dence and  experience. — 1714,  1740,  1755,  1834. 

Whenever  it  appears  to  a  monthly  meeting,  that 
there  is  a  necessity  for  the  appointment  of  one  or  more 
elders  of  either  sex,  a  committee  is  to  be  appointed  by 
the  men's  and  women's  meetings,  and  in  this  united 
committee,  all  the  persons  proposed  for  the  station 
should  be  deliberately  and  weightily  considered;  and 
if  way  does  not  open  to  bring  forward  any  name,  they 
are  to  report  accordingly.    Upon  the  nomination  of 

M 


90 


MINISTERS  AND  ELDERS. 


any  being  agreed  to,  the  report  of  the  united  commit- 
tee is  to  be  made  to  each  meeting;  and  the  women's 
montlily  meeting  having  solidly  considered  the  same, 
and  previous  to  making  any  conclusive  minute  there- 
on, is  to  impart  its  sense  to  the  men's  meeting,  and 
there  leave  it  for  their  judgment  and  determination. 
In  the  men's  meeting,  the  case  is  also  to  be  seriously 
and  carefully  attended  to;  and  when  the  nomination 
is  agreed  to  in  the  monthly  meetings,  a  minute  expres- 
sive thereof,  signed  by  the  clerk  of  the  men's  meeting, 
is  to  be  sent  into  the  women's  meeting  for  its  concur- 
rence and  signing;  and  this  minute  is  to  be  forwarded 
to  the  quarterly  meeting  of  ministers  and  elders,  where 
the  case  being  solidly  weighed,  and  the  conclusion  of 
the  monthly  meetings  concurred  with,  information 
thereof,  by  minute,  is  to  be  sent  to  the  said  monthly 
meetings :  and  until  the  approbation  of  the  quarterly 
meeting  of  ministers  and  elders  is  obtained,  the  nomi- 
nation made  by  the  monthly  meetings  is  not  to  have 
effect.— 1829. 

When  any  Friend  has  frequently  appeared  in  our 
religious  meetings  as  a  minister,  and  the  preparative 
meeting  of  ministers  and  elders,  or,  where  there  is  no 
such  select  preparative  meeting,  the  elders,  believing 
that  it  is  seasonable  the  subject  should  claim  the  atten- 
tion of  the  monthly  meeting  for  Discipline,  of  which 
the  person  is  a  member,  they  are  at  liberty  to  mention 
the  matter  therein;  and  if  the  monthly  meeting,  after 
deliberate  consideration,  should  unite  in  believing  that 
a  gift  in  the  ministry  of  the  Gospel  has  been  committed 


MINISTERS  AND  ELDERS. 


91 


to  him  or  her,  a  minute  expressive  thereof  should  be 
forwarded  to  the  quarterly  meeting  of  ministers  and 
elders,  where,  the  case  being  solidly  weighed,  and  the 
sense  of  the  monthly  meeting  concurred  with,  infor- 
mation thereof  should,  by  minute,  be  sent  to  the 
monthly  meeting,  and  also  to  the  preparative  meeting 
of  ministers  and  elders,  of  which  the  individual  is  to 
be  a  member.  And  until  the  approbation  of  the  quar- 
terly meeting  of  ministers  and  elders  is  obtained,  no 
such  Friend  is  to  be  received  as  a  minister,  nor  per- 
mitted to  sit  in  the  meetings  of  ministers  and  elders, 
nor  travel  abroad  as  a  minister.  And  no  such  ap- 
proved minister  is  to  appoint  any  meeting  out  of  the 
limits  of  the  quarterly  meeting  to  which  he  or  she  be- 
longs, without  a  certificate  from  the  monthly  meeting 
for  Discipline,  or  the  concurrence  thereof. — 1806, 1834. 

When  any  Friend,  appointed  to  the  station  of  an 
elder,  believes  him  or  herself  called  to  the  ministry, 
and  shall  have  appeared  frequently  in  that  capacity  in 
our  public  religious  meetings,  they  should  withdraw 
from  the  meetings  of  ministers  and  elders. — 1806. 

Where  Friends  are  really  dissatisfied  or  burdened 
with  the  communications  of  those  that  take  upon  them 
to  preach  in  our  religious  meetings,  let  them  be  duly 
admonished  by  faithful  ministers  or  elders;  and  if, 
afterwards,  they  persist  to  impose  upon  and  burden 
Friends,  the  elders  should  take  the  necessary  steps  to 
lay  the  case  before  the  monthly  meeting  for  Discipline, 
which  should  treat  with  the  party  a   for  any  other 


92 


MINISTERS  AND  ELDERS. 


breach  of  our  order;  and  if  this  labour  is  ineffectual, 
to  issue  a  testimony  of  disownment. — 1698,  1834. 

When  any  approved  minister  apprehends  it  to  be 
his  or  her  duty  to  travel  in  the  service  of  Truth,  out 
of  the  limits  of  the  respective  quarterly  meeting,  he  or 
she  is  to  open  their  concern  in  the  monthly  meeting  to 
Avhich  they  belong,  and  obtain  a  certificate  or  minute 
(as  the  occasion  may  be)  of  its  unity  and  concurrence, 
directed  to  Friends  within  the  parts  proposed  to  be 
visited.  If  the  concern  is  so  extensive,  as  by  the 
rules  of  our  Discipline  it  is  requisite  to  be  laid  before 
the  quarterly  meeting,  for  its  concurrence  and  endorse- 
ment— or  if  it  is  of  such  a  general  nature,  as  to  make 
it  necessary  to  claim  the  careful  attention  of  the 
yearly  meeting  of  ministers  and  elders,  the  propriety 
and  validity  of  the  concern  should  engage  the  weighty 
consideration,  and  deep  feeling  of  the  said  superior 
meetings,  previous  to  reading  the  certificate  of  the 
monthly  meeting.— 1081,  1806,  1812,  1834. 

When  the  service  of  a  Friend,  who  has  been  out  on 
a  religious  visit,  is  accomplished,  the  meeting  or  meet- 
ings that  have  set  him  or  her  at  liberty  for  that  pur- 
pose, are  to  be  informed  thereof,  and  the  certificate 
returned  without  improper  delay. — 1806. 

When  any  approved  minister  is  religiously  con- 
cerned to  attend  only  one  of  the  yearly  meetings  on 
this  continent,  adjacent  to  the  limits  of  this  yearly 
meeting,  and  to  take  such  meetings  as  are  on  the  way 


MINISTERS  AND  ELDERS. 


93 


thither,  or  on  the  return  from  thence,  or  a  few  meet- 
ings in  the  immediate  vicinity  of  the  place  where  the 
said  yearly  meeting  may  then  be  held;  or  if  it  is  a 
concern,  specially  and  solely,  to  visit  the  meetings 
within  one  or  two  of  the  quarterly  meetings,  belonging 
to  either  of  those  yearly  meetings,  adjacent  to  this 
meeting — he  or  she  is  to  spread  the  same  before  their 
respective  monthly  meeting,  and  when  united  with,  a 
certificate  or  minute  adapted  to  the  occasion,  is  to  be 
made  and  signed — if  for  a  man,  by  the  clerk  of  the 
men's  meeting;  but  if  for  a  woman,  by  the  clerks  of 
the  men's  and  women's  meetings ;  and  in  either  case 
by  one  of  the  correspondents  also. — 1812,  1834. 

If  the  concern  of  a  Friend  is  only  to  attend  a  yearly 
meeting  further  distant,  a  minute  of  the  concurrence 
of  the  monthly  meeting  therewith  will  be  sufficient; 
but  if  it  is  also  to  take  several  of  the  meetings  belong- 
ing thereto — or  if  the  concern  embraces  a  visit  to  a 
considerable  number  of  the  meetings  composing  such 
distant  yearly  meeting,  though  it  may  be  with,  or  exclu- 
sive of  any  prospect  of  attending  it,  and  likewise  in 
either  case,  such  meetings  as  may  be  on  the  way  in 
going  and  returning;  after  a  certificate  for  that  purpose 
has  been  obtained  from  the  monthly  meeting,  the  con- 
cern, together  with  the  certificate,  are  to  be  laid  before 
the  quarterly  meeting,  that  if  concurred  with,  an  en- 
dorsement to  that  effect  may  be  made  thereon. — 1834. 

If  an  approved  minister  is  under  a  concern  to  per- 
form a  religious  visit  to  the  meetings  generally,  which 


94 


MINISTERS  AND  ELDERS. 


are  witliin  the  limits  of  the  yearly  meetings  of  Ohio, 
Indiana  and  Carolina,  or  within  any  two  of  them;  or 
if  it  is  to  make  a  religious  visit  beyond  sea — the  same 
is  to  be  spread  before  the  monthly  meeting,  and  when 
united  with,  a  certificate  thereof  is  to  be  drawn  and 
signed,  if  for  a  man,  by  the  men's  monthly  meeting 
generally,  but  if  for  a  woman,  by  the  men's  and 
women's  monthly  meetings  generally:  the  concern  is 
then  to  be  opened  in  the  respective  quarterly  meeting, 
in  order  for  its  concurrence  and  endorsement,  which, 
if  obtained,  it,  together  with  those  testimonials,  are  to 
laid  before  the  yearly  meeting  of  ministers  and  elders; 
and  if,  upon  solid  consideration,  it  is  there  united 
with,  a  certificate  thereof,  signed  by  the  clerk,  should 
be  granted.— 1812,  1834. 

It  is  desired  that  Friends,  when  abroad  on  religious 
visits,  may  humbly  and  steadily  abide  under  the  weight 
of  the  concern  which  drew  them  out  on  this  important 
embassy,  and  in  which  the  meetings  they  are  respec- 
tively members  of,  have  united;  that  using  due  dili- 
gence in  endeavouring  to  fulfil  the  service,  and  thus 
seasonably  returning  to  their  families  and  friends  at 
home,  their  exemplary  care  and  tender  regard  to  the 
comely  order  of  our  religious  Society,  may  have  an  ' 
extensively  salutary  influence. — 1834. 

If  any  of  our  ministers,  or  those  who  may  come 
from  other  parts  on  a  visit  among  Friends,  gives  occa- 
sion of  uneasiness  in  his  or  her  religious  communica- 
tions, by  misapplying  or  drawing  unsound  inferences 


MINISTERS  AND  ELDERS. 


95 


from  the  text,  or  shall  propagate  any  doctrines  or 
principles  which  are  not  according  to  the  testimony 
of  the  Holy  Scriptures,  and  inconsistent  with  those 
which  our  religious  Society  have  always  held  and  most 
surely  believed,  let  them  be  immediately  treated  with 
by  faithful  elders  or  ministers  where  such  occasion  of 
concern  has  been  given;  and  if  such  minister  prove 
refractory  and  do  not  acknowledge  his  or  her  fault, 
then  the  said  elders  or  ministers  should  give  informa- 
tion thereof,  and  of  the  care  extended,  to  the  elders  of 
the  monthly  meeting  where  such  minister  belongs,  or 
report  the  case  to  their  own  respective  monthly  meet- 
ing, in  order  that  if  it  should  be  judged  requisite,  an 
explicit  communication  from  this  latter  monthly  meet- 
ing to  the  one  of  which  the  individual  is  a  member, 
may  be  seasonably  made,  further  endeavours  for  his 
or  her  help  thence  be  used,  and  our  testimony  to  the 
principles  and  doctrines  of  the  Gospel  of  Christ  duly 
maintained.— 1699,  1834. 

It  is  recommended,  that  when  the  concern  of  a 
Friend  for  the  performance  of  a  religious  visit  to  meet- 
ings within  the  limits  of  this  yearly  meeting,  is  united 
with  by  the  monthly  meeting  of  which  he  or  she  is  a 
member,  that  the  said  monthly  meeting,  by  a  suitable 
committee,  do  carefully  examine  and  see  that  the  ser- 
vice may  not  be  impeded,  or  the  individual  improperly 
burdened,  for  want  of  requisite  means  to  defray  the 
expenses  of  such  a  journey:  and  where  the  concern 
extends  beyond  the  limits  of  this  yearjy  meeting,  the 
like  care  should  weightily  rest  upon  and  be  attended 


96 


MINISTERS  AND  ELDERS. 


to  by  the  quarterly  meeting  to  which  the  Friend  be- 
longs. When  any  Friend  is  drawn  to  make  a  reli- 
gious visit  beyond  sea,  and  the  concern  is  united  with 
in  the  respective  meetings  according  to  the  mode  pre- 
scribed by  the  Discipline,  such  committee  as  the  yearly 
meeting  may  appoint  for  the  purpose,  should  take 
care  for  the  assistance  of  the  individual  when  needful, 
and  to  appropriate  so  much  of  the  stock  of  the  meet- 
ing, as  they  may  judge  proper  for  payment  of  the 
expenses  incurred  in  the  performance  of  the  service. — 
1812. 

The  ministers  and  elders  of  each  monthly  meeting, 
are  to  meet  once  in  three  months,  at  such  time  and 
place  as  the  monthly  meeting  may  direct,  in  the 
capacity  of  a  preparative  meeting  of  ministers  and 
elders;  when,  after  a  time  of  solid  retirement,  the 
queries  addressed  to  such  meetings  are  to  be  read  and 
considered,  and  distinct  answers  made  to  them  in 
writing,  which,  when  signed  by  the  clerk,  are  to  be 
conveyed  to  the  ensuing  quarterly  meeting  of  minis- 
ters and  elders,  by  two  or  more  Friends,  to  be  men- 
tioned in  the  report  as  representatives;  but  if,  in  the 
course  of  inquiry,  any  deficiency  has  appeared,  care 
should  be  taken  that  it  be  remedied. — 1721, 1806. 

In  the  said  quarterly  meetings,  the  queries  are  also 
to  be  read,  with  the  answers  which  are  brought  from 
their  preparative  meetings,  and  the  state  of  the  mem- 
bers and  of  the  respective  preparative  meetings,  should 
be  weightily  considered,  that  where  occasion  requires 


MINISTERS  AND  ELDERS. 


97 


it,  advice,  counsel  and  labour,  may  be  seasonably  ex- 
tended; and  once  a  year,  those  answers  comprised  in 
a  written  report,  and  signed  by  the  clerk,  are  to  be 
forwarded  to  the  yearly  meeting  of  ministers  and 
elders,  by  four  or  more  Friends  appointed  as  repre- 
sentatives. In  this  meeting  the  queries  are  also  to  be 
read,  with  the  answers  from  the  several  quarters ;  and 
the  state  of  this  part  of  the  Society  being  collected 
and  considered,  advices  adapted  thereto  may,  if  requi- 
site, be  issued  to  the  subordinate  meetings  of  like 
kind,  or  care  extended  for  their  help  and  benefit,  as  in 
Divine  wisdom  may  be  needful. — 1753,  1806,  1834. 

None  of  the  said  meetings  of  ministers  and  elders, 
are  to  interfere  with  the  business  of  any  meeting  for 
Discipline:  but  in  accordance  with  our  ancient  prac- 
tice, if  any  meeting  of  ministers  and  elders  have  under 
its  care,  a  subject  which  peculiarly  belongs  to  this 
part  of  our  religious  Society,  and  in  their  judgment  it 
appears  really  needful  to  claim  the  consideration  of  its 
respective  meeting  for  Discipline,  they  are  at  liberty 
to  communicate  the  same  thereto,  accordingly. — 
1722,  1834. 

The  yearly  meeting  of  ministers  and  elders  is  not 
to  suffer  its  adjournments  to  interfere  with  the  sittings 
of  the  yearly  meeting  for  Discipline. — 1721. 

We  tenderly  recommend  faithful  Friends,  and  espe- 
cially ministers  and  ciders,  to  watch  over  the  flock  of 
Christ  in  their  respective  places  and  stations,  always 

N 


98 


MINISTERS  AND  RLDERS. 


approving  themselves  by  their  pious  examples,  in 
conversation  and  conduct,  to  be  such  as  faithfully  and 
diligently  walk  agreeably  to  the  testimony  of  the 
blessed  Truth,  whereunto  the  Lord  hath  gathered  us 
in  this  his  Gospel  day. — 1755. 

If  any  acknowledged  member  of  our  meetings  of 
ministers  and  elders,  shall  at  any  time  be  thought,  by 
negligence,  unfaithfulness,  or  otherwise,  to  have  lost 
his  or  her  service  in  that  station,  so  as  to  become  the 
subject  of  uneasiness  and  burdensome ;  it  is  advised, 
that  a  timely  and  tender  care  be  extended  to  such 
person  according  to  Gospel  order;  first  by  the  indi- 
viduals concerned,  and  then  by  the  preparative  meet- 
ing of  ministers  and  elders  to  which  he  or  she  may 
belong;  or  if  there  is  no  such  preparative  meeting,  by 
the  elders.    Should  these  labours  prove  unavailing, 
report  of  the  case  should  be  made  to  the  quarterly 
meeting  of  ministers  and  elders,  and  there  a  few 
Friends  be  deputed  to  assist  the  said  preparative 
meeting  or  the  elders,  in  a  further  extension  of  labour 
with  the  party:  if  this  also  prove  unavailing,  and  on 
report  thereof  to  the  said  quarterly  meeting,  it  appears 
that  the  duty  to  the  individual  has  been  fully  dis- 
charged, the  case  should  then  by. minute  be  transmit- 
ted to  the  monthly  meeting  for  Discipline  of  which  the 
party  is  a  member,  and  left  under  its  care;  and  he  or 
she  is  from  that  time  to  refrain  from  attending  any 
such  select  meetings,  until  they  shall  be  again  recom- 
mended or  appointed  as  at  first.    But  if  the  said 
monthly  meeting  declines  or  refuses  to  take  up  the 


MINISTERS  AND  ELDERS. 


99 


case,  and  extend  such  care  and  labour  therein  as  is 
requisite,  the  quarterly  meeting  of  ministers  and  elders 
should  represent  to  its  respective  quarterly  meeting 
for  Discipline,  the  concern  and  exercise  which  has  thus 
been  brought  upon  them,  that  hence,  the  state  of  the 
monthly  meeting  and  the  due  maintenance  of  our 
comely  order,  may  claim  the  solid  attention  of  the 
said  quarterly  meeting  for  Discipline;  and  be  brought 
to  such  issue  as  may  be  promotive  of  the  cause  of 
Truth  and  the  well-being  of  our  religious  Society. — 
1806,  1834. 

As  the  original  purpose  and  intention  of  selecting 
from  among  our  members,  a  class  of  solid  judicious 
Friends  for  the  important  station  of  elders,  was  not 
only,  that  where  needful,  they  might  extend  a  brotherly 
care  in  counselHng  and  advising  ministers,  but  to  sit 
with  them  in  those  select  meetings,  and  by  a  united 
exercise,  be  mutually  assistant  to  each  other  in  pro- 
moting a  due  regard  to  those  services  and  duties 
which  peculiarly  belong  to  their  respective  stations;  it 
is  therefore  the  renewed  concern  of  this  meeting,  afiec- 
tionately  to  recommend  to  the  quarterly  meetings  of 
ministers  and  ciders,  that  they  weightily  attend,  from 
time  to  time,  to  the  situation  and  circumstance  of 
those  select  preparative  meetings  where,  from  removal, 
decease,  or  otherwise,  there  is  no  minister;  carefully 
considering  whether  the  continuance  of  meetings, 
which  for  many  years  have  been  in  this  situation,  is 
fulfilling  the  design  of  such  an  institution,  and  of 
essential  benefit  to  our  religious  Society ;  that,  where 


100 


MINISTERS  AND  ELDERS. 


a  suspension  of  any  of  those  meetings  should  appear 
seasonaWe  and  proper,  an  intimation  thereof  may  be 
conveyed  to  the  monthly  meeting  for  Discipline; 
which,  after  consideration,  and  no  weighty  impedi- 
ment to  the  sense  of  the  quarterly  meeting  of  minis- 
ters and  elders  appearing,  should  by  minute  refer  the 
same  to  the  solid  judgment  and  disposal  of  the  respec- 
tive quarterly  meeting  for  Discipline.  Nevertheless, 
those  Friends  who  have  been  appointed  as  elders, 
should  be  considered  as  remaining  in  that  station, 
subject  however  to  the  rules  of  our  Discipline  already 
provided,  and  to  the  like  extension  of  care  towards 
them  by  the  quarterly  meeting  of  ministers  and  elders, 
as  would  have  been  within  the  duties  of  the  select 
preparative  meeting. — 1834. 


101 


MODERATION  AND  TEMPERANCE. 


It  is  affectionately  recommended,  that  Friends  be 
careful  to  use  moderation  on  account  of  marriages, 
burials,  and  on  all  other  occasions;  a  departure  frofti 
which,  has  been  a  cause  of  stumbling  to  many,  and  a 
great  obstruction  to  a  more  full  reformation,  as  well 
as  attended  with  other  evil  consequences,  tending  to 
obscure  that  Light  which  is  graciously  bestowed,  and 
which  we  should  have  more  abundantly,  if  greater 
faithfulness  was  lived  in ;  lessening  that  savour  which 
we  ought  ever  carefully  to  preserve,  agreeably  to  the 
monition  of  the  holy  Apostle:  "Let  your  moderation 
be  known  unto  all  men,  the  Lord  is  at  hand."  Phil, 
iv.  5.  And  as  the  all-seeing  eye  beholds  our  thoughts, 
and  views  us  in  all  our  ways  and  actions,  what  man- 
ner of  men  ought  we  to  be  in  all  godliness  of  life,  and 
sobriety  of  deportment. — 1789. 


102 


OATHS. 


Advised,  that  our  Christian  testimony  be  faithfully 
maintained  against  the  burden  and  imposition  of 
oiiths,  according  to  the  express  command  of  Christ, 
and  the  injunction  of  the  Apostle  James,  viz.  "  Ye 
have  heard  that  it  hath  been  said  by  them  of  old  time, 
thou  shalt  not  forswear  thyself,  but  shalt  perform  unto 
the  Lord  thine  oaths;  but  I  say  unto  you,  swear  not 
at  all:  neither  by  heaven,  for  it  is  God's  throne:  nor 
by  the  earth,  for  it  is  his  footstool:  neither  by  Jerusa- 
lem, for  it  is  the  city  of  the  great  king.  Neither  shalt 
thou  swenr  by  thy  head,  because  thou  canst  not  make 
one  hair  white  or  black:  but  let  your  communication 
be  yea,  yea,  nay,  nay ;  for  whatsoever  is  more  than 
these  Cometh  of  evil."  Matt.  v.  33  to  37. 

"But  above  all  things  my  brethren,  swear  not, 
neither  by  heaven,  neither  by  the  earth,  neither  by  any 
other  oath :  but  let  your  yea,  be  yea ;  and  your  nay, 
nay;  lest  ye  fall  into  condemnation."  James  v.  12. 

From  the  year  1718  to  1771,  divers  minutes  of  this 
meeting  appear,  declaring  that  oaths  administered  by 
clerks  or  others,  under  the  notice  and  connivance  of 
Friends,  either  in  court  or  elsewhere,  are  a  violation 
of  our  ancient  testimony.    And  it  is  earnestly  recom- 


OATHS. 


103 


mended  to  quarterly  and  monthly  meetings,  that 
where  any  under  our  name  are  parties  to  the  adminis- 
tration of  oaths,  to  be  careful  to  proceed  in  dealing 
with  them;  and-  if  they  do  not  decline  the  practice, 
and  give  suitable  satisfaction  to  the  meeting  they  be- 
long to,  to  testify  against  them  agreeably  to  the  rules 
of  our  Discipline. 

As  it  is  our  duty  to  support  our  Christian  testimony 
against  oaths,  faithful  Friends  are  desired  to  extend 
brotherly  labour  towards  those  who  deviate  therefrom; 
and  if  such  labour  proves  unsuccessful,  monthly  meet- 
ings should  testify  their  disunity  with  them. — 1758. 

Friends  in  all  places  are  exhorted  carefully  to  avoid 
electing  or  promoting  their  brethren  to  such  stations 
in  civil  government,  as  may  subject  them  to  the  temp- 
tation of  violating  this  testimony;  and  where  any 
members  show  an  inclination  or  desire  of  soliciting  or 
accepting  of  such  offices,  timely  care  should  be  taken 
to  caution  them  against  it. — 1762. 

And  in  the  execution  of  instruments  of  writing  re- 
quiring witnesses,  it  is  recommended  that  Friends 
endeavour  to  procure  such  persons  for  this  purpose, 
as  will  attest  the  same  by  affirmation. — 1762,  1806. 


104 


OVERSEERS. 


It  is  recommended,  that  in  every  monthly  meeting, 
a  proper  number  of  faithful  and  judicious  men  and 
women,  belonging  to  each  of  the  particular  or  prepara- 
tive meetings,  be  appointed  to  the  station  of  overseers 
within  the  same :  whose  duty  it  is  to  exercise  a  vigi- 
lant and  tender  care  over  their  fellow  members ;  that  if 
any  thing  repugnant  to  the  Discipline,  harmony  and 
good  order  of  the  Society  appears  among  them,  it  may 
be  timely  attended  to  and  not  neglected.  And  to  pre- 
vent the  introduction  of  all  unnecessary  and  prema- 
ture complaints  to  meetings  for  Discipline,  it  is  advised 
if  any  member  shall  have  cause  of  complaint  against 
another,  that  it  be  mentioned  to  the  overseers,  who 
are  to  see  that  the  party  complained  of,  has  been 
treated  with  according  to  gospel  order,  previously  to 
the  case  being  reported  to  the  preparative  or  monthly 
meeting.  It  is  desired,  that  in  dealing  with  any  for 
a  breach  of  the  rules  of  our  Discipline,  it  be  done  in 
the  spirit  of  meekness  and  love,  patiently  endeavour- 
ing to  instruct  and  advise  them :  which  if  ineffectual, 
the  individual  should  be  notified,  when  it  can  be  conve- 
niently done,  that  the  preparative  meeting  is  to  be  in- 
formed thereof.— 1719,  1834. 

If  any  in  membership  with  us  who,  having  violated 
our  religious  testimony  and  Discipline,  have  left  their 
usual  place  of  abode,  and  gone  to  such  remote  parts 


/ 


OVERSEERS.  105 

as  to  render  it  very  difficult  or  impracticable  for  the 
overseers  to  treat  with  them ;  the  preparative  meeting 
is  to  be  early  informed  of  the  case  and  its  circumstan- 
ces, in  order  that  the  monthly  meeting  may  extend 
such  care  therein  as  its  nature  demands. — 1834. 

As  overseers  are  appointed  by,  and  are  the  officers 
of  monthly  meetings,  their  labour  should  not  be  con- 
fined to  the  preparative  meetings  where  they  may  re- 
spectively belong  J  but  they  should  be  vigilant  in  the 
extension  of  care  towards  delinquent  members  in  any 
part  of  the  monthly  meeting,  w  hich  has  delegated  them 
to  this  important  service. — 1828. 

It  is  further  recommended  to  our  monthly  meetings, 
that  a  committee  be  appointed  at  least  once  in  three 
years,  or  as  much  oftener  as  the  occasion  may  require, 
to  consider  the  propriety  of  changing  the  overseers 
and  bringing  forward  in  the  improvement  of  their  gifts, 
other  Friends  on  whom  a  concern  for  the  welfare  of 
the  Society  rests.  We  tenderly  exhort  all  our  mem- 
bers who  may  be  rightly  called  into  this  or  any  other 
service  of  the  church,  not  hastily  to  excuse  themselves 
therefrom,  but  solidly  to  ponder  the  weighty  advice  of 
the  Apostle,  "  Feed  the  flock  of  God,  which  is  among 
you,  taking  the  oversight  thereof,  not  by  constraint, 
but  willingly;  not  for  filthy  lucre,  but  of  a  ready  mind; 
neither  as  lords  over  God's  heritage ;  but  being  en- 
samples  to  the  flock :  and  when  the  chief  Shepherd 
shall  appear,  ye  shall  receive  a  crown  of  glory,  that 
fadeth  not  away."  1  Peter  v.  2,  3,  4.— 1806. 

O 


106 


PARENTS  AND  CHILDREN. 


In  much  love  to  the  rising  generation,  we  exhort 
them  to  avoid  the  many  vanities  and  ensnaring  cor- 
ruptions to  which  they  are  exposed.  Bear  in  mind, 
dear  youth,  that  "  the  fear  of  the  Lord  is  the  beginning 
of  wisdom,"  and  that  "  a  good  understanding  have 
all  they  who  do  his  commandments."  Psalm  xci.  10. 
Take  the  advice  of  godly  parents,  guardians  and 
friends ;  ever  remembering  that,  next  to  our  Creator, 
children  ought  to  obey  their  parents;  that  disobedience 
to  them  is  a  breach  of  the  moral  law,  and  was  always 
offensive  in  the  Divine  sight.  Submit  to  their  reasonable 
requirings  with  cheerfulness,  though  these  may  some- 
times thwart  your  own  inclinations ;  and  answer  them 
not  frowardly  or  crossly.  They  watched  over  you 
and  took  care  of  you,  when  you  were  utterly  unable 
to  help  or  care  for  yourselves.  Why  then  should  any 
of  you  grieve  and  wound  their  still  anxious  minds,  by 
a  conduct,  which,  because  of  its  tendency  to  obstruct 
your  welfare  and  happiness,  you  know  they  cannot 
approve  ? — such  as  running  into  vain  and  expensive 
fashions;  associating  with  corrupt  and  libertine  persons; 
frequenting  taverns  and  places  of  diversion ;  wasting 
your  precious  time  in  idle  discourse,  and  drawing  the 
affections  and  inflaming  the  passions  one  of  another ; 
all  which,  we  have  no  doubt,  the  divine  Monitor  in  your 
own  breasts  often  pleads  with  you  against,  and  shows 


PARENTS  AND  CHILDREN. 


107 


to  be  destructive  of  your  peace.  We  as  fathers,  be- 
seech you,  to  attend  to  this  heavenly  Instructor,  and 
dutifully  yield  to  the  correspondent  tender  advice  of 
your  friends.  Shrink  not  from  the  cross  of  Christ  in 
your  garb,  language,  or  manners;  but,  through  a  sub- 
jection of  your  wills  to  the  Divine  will,  in  these  and  all 
other  respects,  walk  answerably  to  the  purity  of  our 
profession,  and  the  simplicity  and  spirituality  of  our 
worship :  so  may  you  be  instructive  examples  to  seri- 
ous inquirers  after  truth ;  and  not  of  those  who,  under 
a  profession  thereof,  are  preferring  their  own  crooked 
ways,  and  turning  others  from  the  footsteps  of  the 
followers  of  Christ. 

It  is  advised,  that  where  the  pious  exercise  of  paren- 
tal care  and  authority  is  disregarded,  and  any  of  the 
youth  in  membership  with  us  appear  obstinately  de- 
termined to  run  into  and  copy  after  the  vain  and  ex- 
travagant fashions  of  the  world,  in  their  dress  and 
address,  exposing  themselves  to  the  corrupting  influ- 
ence of  evil  company  and  excesses,  whereby  designing 
persons  may  entangle  their  affections,  and  draw  them 
into  unsuitable  and  unhappy  connections  in  marriage 
or  otherwise,  that  such  be  timely  and  tenderly  treated 
with,  and  shown  the  dangerous  tendency  of  their  con- 
duct ;  and,  if  they  cannot  be  prevailed  with  to  desist 
therefrom,  and  amend  their  ways,  they  should  be  dealt 
with  by  their  respective  preparative  or  monthly  meet- 
ings, as  in  other  cases  of  offence;  and  if,  after  due  ex- 
postulation and  forbearance,  they  prove  irreclaimable, 
they  should  be  testified  against. — 1792. 


108 


PARENTS  AND  CHILDREN. 


If  any  parents  in  membership  with  us,  wilhngly  in- 
dulge their  children  or  youth  under  their  care,  in  such 
extravagance,  liberties  and  excesses,  as  are  here 
pointed  out,  they  should  in  like  manner  be  treated 
with  and  disowned. 

Friends  are  advised  to  bring  up  their  children  to 
liabits  of  industry,  placing  them  with  sober  and  exem- 
plary members  of  the  Society,  for  instruction  in  such 
occupations  as  are  consistent  with  our  religious  princi- 
ples and  testimonies;  that  as  far  as  in  us  lies,  they  may 
be  preserved  in  a  becoming  conduct  and  demeanour. 
And  it  is  desired  that  those  whose  circumstances  may 
furnish  with  abihty  for  instructing,  in  useful  and  suit- 
able employments,  the  children  of  members  who  are 
in  situations  less  affluent,  may  receive  them  into  their 
families  upon  terms  so  moderate  and  equitable,  as  to 
remove  every  plausible  reason  for  placing  them  with 
those  not  in  membership  with  us. — 1799. 


109 


PLAINNESS. 


Advised,  that  all  Friends,  both  old  and  young,  keep 
out  of  the  world's  corrupt  language,  manners,  vain  and 
needless  things  and  fashions,  in  apparel,  buildings,  and 
furniture  of  houses;  some  of  which  are  immodest,  in- 
decent, and  unbecoming.  And  that  they  avoid  im- 
moderation in  the  use  of  lawful  things,  which,  however 
innocent  in  themselves,  may  thereby  become  hurtful ; 
also  all  such  kinds  of  stuffs,  colours  and  dress,  as  are 
calculated  more  to  please  a  vain  and  wanton  mind, 
than  for  real  usefulness;  and  let  tradesmen  and  others, 
members  of  our  religious  Society,  be  admonished,  that 
they  be  not  accessary  to  these  evils ;  for  we  ought  to 
take  up  our  daily  cross,  minding  the  grace  of  God 
which  brings  salvation,  and  teaches  to  deny  all  ungod- 
liness and  worldly  lusts,  and  to  live  soberly,  righteous- 
ly, and  godly  in  this  present  world,  that  we  may  adorn 
the  Gospel  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ  in  all  things ;  so 
may  we  feel  his  blessing,  and  be  instrumental  in  his 
handforthegoodof  others.— 1682,  1694,  1695,  1711. 

We  tenderly  exhort  all  seriously  to  consider  the 
plainness  and  simplicity  which  the  Gospel  enjoins,  and 
to  manifest  an  adherence  to  this  testimony,  in  their 
speech,  apparel,  furniture,  business,  salutations  and 
conversation ;  into  which  our  forefathers  were  led  by 


110 


PLAINNESS. 


the  Spirit  of  Christ,  and  in  conformity  with  whose  pre- 
cepts and  example,  they  patiently  suffered  long  impri- 
sonments, and  great  persecutions ;  being  convinced 
that  it  was  their  duty  thus  to  bear  a  testimony  against 
the  vain,  corrupt  spirit  of  the  world. — 1746. 

The  Spirit  of  Truth,  which  led  our  ancients  to  lay 
aside  every  thing  unbecoming  the  followers  of  Christ, 
still  leads  in  the  same  path,  all  who  submit  to  its  guid- 
ance; we  therefore  earnestly  entreat  all  Friends,  to 
watch  over  themselves  in  this  respect.  The  example 
of  our  blessed  Saviour,  his  immediate  followers,  and 
of  virtuous  and  holy  men  in  all  ages,  ought  to  make 
a  due  impression  on  every  considerate  mind;  and 
especially  on  such  as  have  had  the  advantage  of  a 
guarded  education. 

We  also  tenderly  advise,  that  Friends  seriously 
bear  in  mind,  they  should  be  exemplary  to  others  un- 
der their  care ;  that  they  exercise  plainness  of  speech, 
without  respect  of  persons,  in  all  their  converse  among 
men ;  not  balking  their  testimony  by  a  cowardly  com- 
pliance, and  varying  their  language  according  to  their 
company;  a  practice  of  very  ill  example,  rendering 
those  who  use  it  contemptible,  and  looked  upon  as  a 
kind  of  hypocrites,  even  by  those  with  whom  they  so 
comply.  This  seems  to  be  cautioned  against  by  the 
Apostle,  when  he  advises,  1  Tim.  "  That  the  deacons 
be  grave,  not  double  tongued ;"  plainly  importing,  that 
it  is  inconsistent  with  the  gravity  of  the  Gospel. — 
1743. 


Ill 


POOR. 


It  is  advised,  that  the  cases  of  all  our  members  who 
are  in  indigent  circumstances,  be  duly  inspected,  that 
advice  and  relief  may  be  seasonably  extended,  and 
assistance  afforded  to  them  in  such  business  as  they 
are  capable  of :  and  in  order  to  defray  the  expenses 
which  their  support  and  the  education  of  their  children 
will  necessarily  occasion,  it  is  recommended  to  each 
monthly  meeting  of  men  and  women  Friends,  to  be 
open-hearted  and  liberal  in  subscriptions  for  raising 
and  continuing  funds  for  these  purposes :  that  the 
meetings  of  each  sex  should  appoint  a  treasurer  to 
receive  the  same,  and  a  committee  of  suitable  Friends 
to  have  the  particular  care  of  the  poor,  whose  business 
it  will  be  to  visit,  inspect  into  their  wants,  and  relieve 
them.  In  the  exercise  of  this  benevolent  care,  it  is 
desired  we  may  always  guard  against  exposing  the 
names  or  situations  of  our  fellow  members.  An  ap- 
pointment should  be  annually  made  of  two  or  more 
Friends  for  settling  the  treasurer's  account,  and  re- 
porting its  state  to  the  meeting. — 1721,  1796. 


112 


QUERIES. 


It  is  agreed,  that  the  eight  queries  belonging  to  meet- 
ings for  Discipline,  be  read,  deliberately  considered,  and 
answered  in  each  preparative  and  monthly  meeting 
once  a  year;  in  order  to  convey  an  explicit  account 
in  vi^riting  to  the  quarterly  meetings  next  preceding 
the  yearly  meeting,  that  so  this  meeting  may  be  clearly 
informed  of  the  state  of  all  our  meetings. 

Also,  that  the  first,  second  and  eighth  of  those 
queries  be  read,  considered,  and  explicit  ansveers  to 
them  made  in  writing  in  the  two  quarterly  meetings 
preceding  the  one  before  mentioned,  and  also  in  the 
preparative  and  monthly  meetings  which  report  thereto. 
But  none  of  the  queries  are  to  be  read  or  answered  in 
those  quarterly  meetings  for  Discipline,  which  immedi- 
ately succeed  the  yearly  meeting,  nor  in  the  prepara- 
tive or  monthly  meetings  which  report  to  those 
quarters. 

It  is  not  considered  as  obligatory  on  any  meeting, 
to  read  the  above  queries  oftener  than  is  here  men- 
tioned, nor  to  read  any  others  than  such  as  are  to 
be  answered.  Nor  is  the  reading  and  answering  of 
them  enjoined  on  any  preparative  meeting,  where  the 
members  of  that,  and  the  montlily  meeting  are  the 
same. — 1806. 


QUERIES. 


113 


It  is  further  agreed,  that  at  the  time  when  the  eight 
queries  are  read  in  the  preparative  and  monthly  meet- 
ings, the  advices  and  caution  subjoined,  shall  be  also 
distinctly  read  and  soUdly  pondered;  as  a  means  of 
putting  the  members  present  upon  considering,  whether 
there  be  any  occasion  for  an  extension  of  care  in  those 
respects:  and,  if  there  is,  of  stirring  them  up  to  a 
faithful  discharge  of  their  duty  as  individuals,  one 
towards  another. 

First  Query. — Are  all  our  religious  meetings  for 
Worship  and  Discipline,  duly  attended;  is  the  hour 
observed;  and  are  Friends  clear  of  sleeping,  and  of  all 
other  unbecoming  behaviour  therein? 

Second  Query. — Are  love  and  unity  maintained 
amongst  you.  Are  tale-bearing  and  detraction  dis- 
couraged. And  where  any  differences  arise,  are  en- 
deavours used  speedily  to  end  them? 

Third  Query. — Are  Friends  careful  to  bring  up 
those  under  their  direction,  in  plainness  of  speech,  be- 
haviour and  apparel ;  in  frequently  reading  the  Holy 
Scriptures;  and  to  restrain  them  from  reading  per- 
nicious books,  and  from  the  corrupt  conversation  of 
the  world?  And  are  they  good  examples  in  these 
respects  themselves? 

Fourth  Query. — Are  Friends  careful  to  discourage 
the  unnecessary  distillation  and  use  of  spirituous 
liquors,  and  the  frequenting  of  taverns;  to  avoid 

P 


114 


QUERIES. 


places  of  diversion,  and  to  keep  in  true  moderation 
and  temperance  on  the  account  of  marriages,  burials, 
and  all  other  occasions  ? 

Fifth  Query. — Are  poor  Friends'  necessities  duly 
inspected,  and  they  relieved  or  assisted  in  such  busi- 
ness as  they  are  capable  of.  Do  their  children  freely 
partake  of  learning  to  fit  them  for  business :  and  are 
they  and  other  Friends'  children  placed  among 
Friends  ? 

Sixth  Query. — Do  you  maintain  a  faithful  testimony 
against  oaths ;  an  hireling  ministry ;  bearing  arms, 
training,  and  other  military  services;  being  concerned 
in  any  fraudulent  or  clandestine  trade;  buying  or 
vending  goods  so  imported,  or  prize  goods;  and 
against  encouraging  lotteries  of  any  kind  ? 

Seventh  Query. — Are  Friends  careful  to  live  within 
the  bounds  of  their  circumstances,  and  to  keep  to 
moderation  in  their  trade  or  business.  Are  they 
punctual  to  their  promises,  and  just  in  the  payment  of 
their  debts;  and  are  such  as  give  reasonable  grounds 
for  fear  on  these  accounts,  timely  laboured  with  for 
their  preservation  or  recovery  ? 

Eighth  Query. — Do  you  take  due  care  regularly  to 
deal  with  all  offenders  in  the  spirit  of  meekness,  with- 
out partiality  or  unnecessary  delay,  in  order  for  their 
help;  and  where  such  labour  is  ineftectual,  to  place 
judgment  upon  them,  in  the  authority  of  Truth? 


QUERIES. 


115 


And  in  the  preparative  and  monthly  meetings,  when 
all  the  foregoing  queries  are  read  and  answered,  the 
following  advices  are  to  be  read,  with  a  suitable  pause 
between  them: 

That  no  young  or  single  persons  make  or  encou- 
rage proposals  of  marriage  with  each  other  without 
consent  of  parents  or  guardians,  or  keep  company 
with  those  who  are  not  of  our  religious  Society,  upon 
that  account;  and  if  parents  give  their  consent  to,  or 
connive  at  their  children's  thus  keeping  company,  or 
marrying,  that  they  be  dealt  with  according  to  our 
Discipline.  And  if  any  of  our  members  have  been 
present  at  marriages  accomphshed  contrary  to  the 
rules  of  our  Discipline,  that  they  also  be  dealt  with. 

That  all  public  gifts  and  legacies  be  strictly  applied 
to  the  uses  intended  by  the  donors ;  or,  if  any  unfore- 
seen occurrence  should  render  such  compliance  diffi- 
cult or  impracticable,  that  an  early  application  be 
made  to  the  meeting  for  Sufferings  for  its  advice  or 
assistance:  and  that  timely  care  be  taken  for  the  re- 
newal of  trusts. 

That  Friends  intending  removal  be  careful  to  apply 
for  certificates;  and  that  the  cases  of  such  who  re- 
move without  certificates,  or  of  sojourners  coming 
from  other  places  and  appearing  as  Friends,  without 
producing  certificates,  be  properly  attended  to. 

That  Friends  carefully  inspect  the  state  of  their 


IIG 


QUERIES. 


affairs  once  in  the  year;  and  make  their  wills  and 
settle  their  outward  estates  whilst  in  health. 

And  it  is  further  recommended,  that  in  conducting 
the  affairs  of  our  meetings,  as  it  is  the  Lord's  work, 
let  it  be  done  as  in  his  sight;  thus  Friends  should 
humbly  endeavour  to  manage  them  in  the  peaceable 
spirit  and  wisdom  of  Jesus,  with  decency,  forbearance, 
and  love  of  each  other. 

The  following  queries  are  also  to  be  read,  consider- 
ed and  answered  once  a  year,  in  each  monthly  and 
quarterly  meeting,  and  a  report  thereof  made  in  wri- 
ting to  this  meeting:  and  it  is  recommended,  that  in 
answering  the  query  respecting  schools,  monthly  meet- 
ings furnish  their  respective  quarters  with  particular 
accounts  of  the  situation  and  circumstance  of  the 
several  schools  within  their  limits,  which  are  under 
the  care  of  preparative,  monthly,  or  quarterly  meet- 
ings; and  that  the  quarterly  meetings  convey  to  this 
meeting  a  summary  statement  thereof. 

First  Query. — What  ministers  and  elders  deceased, 
and  when  ? 

Second  Query. — What  new  meetings  have  been 
settled  ?  and  have  any  meetings  been  discontinued  ? 

Third  Query. — Is  due  care  taken  to  keep  a  regular 
record  of  births  and  deaths  ? 


QUERIES. 


117 


Fourth  Query. — Are  there  schools  estabhshed  for 
the  education  of  our  youth,  under  the  care  of  teachers 
in  membership  with  us,  and  superintended  by  commit- 
tees appointed  either  in  the  monthly  or  preparative 
meetings  ? 

Fifth  Query. — Are  the  queries  addressed  to  the 
quarterly,  monthly  and  preparative  meetings,  read  and 
answered  therein,  as  directed? — 1755,  1782,  1806, 
1834. 


118 


aUERIES  FOR  MEETINGS  OF  MINIS- 
TERS AND  ELDERS. 


It  is  also  concluded,  that  of  the  following  four  que- 
ries, formed  for  the  use  of  the  meetings  of  ministers 
and  elders,  the  first  three  be  read  and  distinctly  an- 
swered in  writing,  three  times  in  a  year,  by  each  pre- 
parative meeting  of  that  kind,  to  its  respective  quar- 
terly meeting:  and  that  all  the  said  four  queries  shall 
be  in  like  manner  read  and  answered,  by  the  prepara- 
tive to  their  quarterly  meetings  next  preceding  the 
yearly  meeting  of  ministers  and  elders ;  that  the  quar- 
terly meetings  may  be  enabled  to  transmit  a  clear  and 
distinct  statement  of  those  answers  to  that  meeting. 

First  Query. — Are  ministers  and  elders  careful  to 
attend  meetings  for  divine  worship,  bringing  their 
families  with  them.  Do  they  diligently  attend  meet- 
ings for  Discipline,  encouraging  such  of  their  families 
to  this  duty  as  are  of  proper  age,  and  suitable  deport- 
ment? 

Second  Query. — Are  ministers  sound  in  word  and 
doctrine;  and  careful  to  minister  in  the  ability  which 
God  gives? 

Third  Query. — Are  the  lives  and  conversation  of 
ministers  and  elders  clean  and  blameless  amongst 


QUERIES. 


119 


men:  are  they  in  unity  one  with  another,  and  with  the 
meeting  they  belong  to,  harmoniously  labouring  for 
Truth's  honour? 

Fourth  Query. — Are  they  good  examples  in  upright- 
ness, temperance,  and  moderation;  and  careful  to 
train  up  their  families  in  plainness  of  dress  and  sim- 
plicity of  manners,  becoming  our  religious  profession? 

It  is  earnestly  and  affectionately  recommended,  that 
ministers  and  elders  watch  over  one  another  for  good, 
to  help  those  who  are  exercised  in  the  ministry  in  the 
right  line;  discouraging  forward  spirits  that  run  into 
words  without  life  and  power;  advising  against  affec- 
tation of  tones  and  gestures,  and  every  thing  that 
would  hurt  their  service;  yet  encouraging  the  humble, 
careful  traveller;  "  speaking  a  word  in  season  to  them 
that  are  weary."  And  let  all  dwell  in  that  which 
gives  ability  to  labour  successfully  in  the  church  of 
Christ,  adorning  the  doctrine  which  they  deliver  to 
others;  being  examples  of  the  believers,  in  word,  in 
conversation,  in  charity,  in  spirit,  in  faith,  and  in 
purity.— 1755,  1795,  1806. 


120 


SCHOOLS. 


The  education  of  our  youth  in  piety  and  virtue,  and 
giving  them  useful  learning  under  the  tuition  of  reli- 
gious, prudent  persons,  having  for  a  great  number  of 
years  engaged  the  solid  attention  of  this  meeting,  ad- 
vices thereon  have  been  from  time  to  time  issued  to 
the  several  subordinate  meetings;  it  is  renewedly  de- 
sired, that  quarterly,  monthly  and  preparative  meet- 
ings may  be  excited  to  proper  exertions  for  the  insti- 
tution and  support  of  schools;  there  being  but  little 
doubt,  that  as  Friends  are  united,  and  cherish  a  dis- 
position of  liberality  for  the  assistance  of  each  other 
in  this  important  work,  they  will  be  enabled  to  make 
such  provision  for  the  accommodation  and  residence 
of  a  teacher,  with  a  family,  as  would  be  an  encourage- 
ment to  well  qualified  persons  to  engage  in  this  ardu- 
ous employment:  for  want  of  which,  it  has  been 
observed,  that  children  have  been  committed  to  the 
care  of  transient  persons,  of  doubtful  character,  and 
sometimes  of  very  corrupt  minds,  by  whose  bad  ex- 
ample and  influence,  they  have  been  betrayed  into 
principles  and  habits,  which  have  had  an  injurious 
effect  on  them  in  more  advanced  life.  It  is  therefore 
indispensably  incumbent  on  us  to  guard  them  against 
this  danger,  and  to  procure  such  tutors  of  our  own 
religious  persuasion,  as  are  not  only  capable  of  in- 
structing them  in  useful  learning,  to  fit  them  for  the 


SCHOOLS. 


121 


business  of  this  life,  but  to  train  them  in  the  knowledge 
of  their  duty  to  God,  and  one  towards  another.  It  is 
therefore  proposed;  First,  That  a  lot  of  ground  be 
provided  in  each  monthly  or  preparative  meeting,  suf- 
ficient for  a  garden,  orchard,  grass  for  a  cow,  &c.  and 
a  suitable  house  erected  thereon. 

Second. — That  funds  be  raised  by  contribution,  be- 
quests, &c.  in  each  meeting;  the  interest  of  which  to 
be  applied  either  in  aid  of  the  tutor's  salary,  or  lessen- 
ing the  expense  of  Friends  in  straitened  circumstances, 
in  the  education  of  their  children. 

Third. — That  a  committee  be  appointed  in  each 
monthly  or  preparative  meeting,  to  have  the  care  of 
schools,  and  the  funds  for  their  support,  and  that  no 
tutor  be  employed  but  with  their  consent. 

Although  the  raising  a  sufficiency  to  answer  those 
purposes  may  in  some  places  appear  difficult,  yet  as 
improvements  of  this  kind  are  generally  gradual,  and 
have  often  arisen  from  small  beginnings  into  very  val- 
uable establishments,  it  is  desired  that  Friends  may  be 
encouraged  thereto,  and  keeping  an  eye  to  the  Divine 
blessing  on  their  benevolent  endeavours,  make  such 
essay  for  carrying  into  effect  these  recommendations 
as  they  may  be  enabled.— 174G,  1750,  1778  to  1787. 

Under  a  renewed  fervent  concern  for  the  preserva- 
tion of  our  youth,  and  their  advancement  in  piety  and 
virtue,  it  is  desired  that  quarterly  meetings  would  enter 

Q 


122 


SCHOOLS. 


deeply  into  the  important  subject  of  education,  and 
promote  iu  the  subordinate  meetings,  the  estabhsh- 
ment  of  scliools,  to  be  taught  by  members  of  our  re- 
hgious  Society;  and  that  a  vigilant  care  be  exercised 
in  all  such  schools,  to  instruct  the  children  in  the  prin- 
ciples of  the  Christian  religion,  and  the  peculiar  testi- 
monies of  our  religious  Society :  that  each  quarterly 
meeting  raise  a  school  fund,  to  be  applied  under  the 
direction  of  a  committee,  to  the  assistance  of  those 
meetings  and  families  which  may  require  such  aid. — 
The  daily  reading  of  the  Holy  Scriptures,  and  the 
regular  attendance  of  the  scholars  at  mid-week  meet- 
ings, where  it  is  practicable,  should  be  enjoined  at  all 
these  schools. 

Although  various  difficulties  and  discouragements 
exist  in  some  of  the  quarterly  meetings,  yet  if  Friends 
generally  were  brought  to  consider  a  guarded  educa- 
tion, not  merely  as  a  matter  of  temporal  convenience 
and  accommodation,  but  as  it  really  is,  a  religious  con- 
cern of  primary  obligation,  and  deeply  affecting  the 
spiritual  welfare  of  their  beloved  offspring,  they  would 
be  prepared  to  prosecute  it  with  lively  zeal,  and  to 
make  such  pecuniary  and  other  sacrifices  to  procure 
it,  that  few  meetings  would  be  found  where  select 
schools  could  not  be  supported,  and  none  of  the  chil- 
dren of  Friends,  to  whom  the  invaluable  blessing  of 
a  competent  and  religious  education,  would  not  be  ac- 
cessible. Quarterly  and  monthly  meetings  are  there- 
fore recommended  to  appoint  committees  to  have  this 
subject  under  their  special  care ;  to  make  particular 


SCHOOLS. 


123 


inquiry  into  llie  situation  of  all  their  members  as  re- 
gards education,  and  endeavour,  as  way  may  open, 
earnestly  to  impress  on  their  minds,  a  due  sense  of 
the  value  of  a  religious,  guarded  education,  and  of 
the  obligation  which  rests  on  parents,  to  use  diligent 
exertions  faithfully  to  discharge  this  important  duty 
towards  their  children. 

And  it  is  desired,  that  Friends  in  the  respective  meet- 
ings may  cherish  a  liberal  disposition,  in  contributing 
towards  the  assistance  of  their  brethren,  who  have  fam- 
ilies of  children  growing  up  around  them,  and  are  la- 
bouring under  many  discouragements  and  disadvanta- 
ges, arising  from  the  want  of  means  to  give  them  that 
kind  of  education,  which  it  has  long  been  the  fervent 
concern  of  this  meeting  to  promote  among  its  mem- 
bers. As  a  principal  obstacle  to  forming  select  schools, 
within  some  of  the  quarterly  meetings,  appears  to  arise 
from  the  scattered  situation  of  the  families,  and  the 
difficulty  of  locating  a  school  so  as  to  bo  within  the 
reach  of  a  sufficient  number  of  the  children  of  Friends; 
this  may  in  great  measure  be  removed,  by  fixing  the 
school  in  a  central  situation  near  the  meeting  house, 
and  boarding  the  children,  whose  parents  reside  at  a 
distance,  in  the  families  of  Friends  who  live  contigu- 
ous. If  a  proper  concern  for  the  promotion  of  the 
welfare  of  each  other,  is  cultivated  among  our  mem- 
bers, it  is  believed  there  would  be  little  difficulty  in 
procuring  such  situations  for  the  children,  where  they 
can  be  accommodated  during  the  week  at  a  small  ex- 
pense, and  return  home  to  spend  the  first-day  with 


124 


SCHOOLS. 


their  parents.  It  is  also  recommended,  that  all  these 
schools  should  be  under  the  care  of  committees,  ap- 
pointed in  the  monthly  or  preparative  meetings,  who 
should  frequently  visit,  and  diligently  watch  over  them, 
in  order  to  promote  their  improvement,  and  to  encou- 
rage Friends  to  send  their  children  there,  rather  than 
to  the  mixed  schools  in  the  neighbourhood. 

As  essentially  connected  with,  and  highly  conducive 
to  the  fulfilment  of  the  foregoing  salutary  recommen- 
dations, it  is  very  important  that  Friends  bear  in  mind, 
that  the  business  of  proper  and  just  education,  must 
be  begun  at  home,  and  that  the  discipline  and  docility, 
which  will  enable  children  to  profit  by  the  instruction 
of  their  teachers,  and  which  often  determine  the  course 
of  their  future  life,  should  be  inculcated  there. — 1831, 
1834. 


• 


125 


SCRIPTURES  OF  THE  OLD  AND 
NEW  TESTAMENTS. 


We  tenderly  and  earnestly  advise  and  exhort  all 
parents  and  heads  of  families,  that  they  endeavour  to 
instruct  their  children  and  families  in  the  doctrines 
and  precepts  of  the  Christian  religion,  as  contained  in 
the  Holy  Scriptures;  and  that  they  excite  them  to  the 
diligent  reading  of  those  excellent  writings,  which 
plainly  set  forth  the  miraculous  conception,  birth,  holy 
life,  wonderful  works,  blessed  example,  meritorious 
death,  and  glorious  resurrection,  ascension  and  medi- 
ation, of  our  Lord  and  Saviour  Jesus  Christ;  and  to 
educate  their  children  in  the  belief  of  those  important 
truths,  as  well  as  in  the  belief  of  the  inward  manifes- 
tation and  operation  of  the  Holy  Spirit  on  their  own 
minds,  that  they  may  reap  the  benefit  and  advantage 
thereof,  for  their  own  peace  and  everlasting  happiness; 
which  is  infinitely  preferable  to  all  other  considera- 
tions.—1732. 

We  have  always  believed  that  the  Holy  Scriptures 
were  written  by  Divine  inspiration;  that  they  arc  able 
to  make  wise  unto  salvation,  through  faith  which  is  in 
Christ  .Jesus:  for,  as  holy  men  of  God  spake  as  they 
were  moved  by  the  Holy  Ghost,  they  are  therefore 
profitable  for  doctrine,  for  reproof,  for  correction,  for 
instruction  in  righteousness,  that  the  man  of  God  may 


126 


SCRIPTURES. 


be  perfect,  thoroughly  furnished  unto  all  good  works. 
But  as  Ave  freely  acknowledge,  that  their  authority 
doth  not  depend  upon  the  approbation  of  any  church 
or  assembly,  so  neither  can  we  subject  them  to  the 
fallen  corrupt  reason  of  man.  As  a  true  understand- 
ing of  the  Divine  will,  and  meaning  of  Holy  Scrip- 
ture, cannot  be  discerned  by  the  natural,  but  only  by 
the  spiritual  man,  it  is  therefore  by  the  assistance  of 
the  Holy  Spirit,  that  they  are  read  with  great  instruc- 
tion and  comfort. — 1828. 

We  have  always  asserted  our  willingness,  that  all 
our  doctrines  and  practices  be  tried  by  them;  and 
admit  it  as  a  positive  maxim,  "  That  whatever  any  do, 
pretending  to  the  Spirit,  which  is  contrary  to  the 
Scriptures,  be  accounted  and  reckoned  a  delusion  of 
the  devil." 

We  receive  and  believe  in  the  testimony  of  the 
Scriptures,  simply  as  it  stands  in  the  text — "  There 
are  three  that  bear  record  in  heaven,  the  Father,  the 
Word,  and  the  Holy  Ghost,  and  these  three  are  one." 
—1828. 


127 


SLAVE  TRADE  AND  SLAVERY. 


It  appears  to  have  been  the  concern  of  this  meet- 
ing, revived  from  time  to  time,  with  increasing  weight, 
to  testify  their  entire  disunity  with  the  practice  of  en- 
slaving mankind,  and  particularly  to  guard  all  in 
membership  with  us  against  being,  in  any  degree, 
concerned  in  the  purchase  of  slaves  from  the  coasts  of 
Africa  or  other  parts.  Having  with  sorrow  observed, 
that  in  some  parts  of  our  country  this  shameful  prac- 
tice is  still  continued  and  connived  at,  we  therefore 
think  it  proper  to  revive  the  advices  heretofore  issued ; 
and  again  exhort  our  members,  to  be  no  way  acces- 
sary to  this  enormous  national  evil,  but  to  discourage 
it  by  all  the  justifiable  means  in  their  power;  it  being 
obvious,  that  wherever  it  prevails,  it  tends  to  corrupt 
the  morals  of  the  people,  so  as  not  only  to  render 
them  obnoxious  to  the  displeasure  of  the  Almighty, 
but  deaf  to  his  warnings,  and  insensible  and  regard- 
less of  his  impending  judgments. — 1755,  1806. 

And  we  earnestly  desire  that  our  members  gener- 
ally may  use  endeavours  to  promote  the  instruction  of 
the  people  of  colour,  as  objects  of  the  common  salva- 
tion, in  the  principles  of  the  Christian  religion;  as  well 
as  in  such  branches  of  school  learning  as  may  fit  them 
for  freedom,  and  to  become  useful  members  of  civil 


128 


SLAVE  TRADE  AND  SLAVERY. 


society.  Also,  that  Friends  in  their  several  neigh- 
bourhoods, advise  and  assist  them  in  the  education  of 
their  children,  and  common  worldly  concerns. — 1778. 

Friends  are  cautioned  against  acting  as  executors 
or  administrators  to  estates  where  slaves  are  be- 
queathed; and  doing  any  thing  whereby  their  bondage 
may  be  prolonged. — 1774. 

It  is  the  sense  and  judgment  of  this  meeting,  that  if 
any  in  membership  with  us  are  in  any  wise  concerned 
in  purchasing,  disposing  of,  or  holding  mankind  as 
slaves,  or  shall  by  any  means  encourage  or  counte- 
nance a  traffic  in  slaves,  they  should  be  treated  with 
as  for  any  other  immoral,  unjust,  or  reproachful  con- 
duct; and  if  they  are  not  brought  to  such  a  sense  of 
their  deviation  from  the  law  of  righteousness  and 
Christian  equity,  as  to  condemn  the  same  to  the  satis- 
faction of  the  monthly  meeting,  they  should  be  dis- 
owned.—1774,  1834. 

It  appearing  that,  notwithstanding  the  many  afflic- 
tive dispensations  with  which  Divine  wisdom  has  seen 
meet  to  visit  this  land,  many  of  its  inhabitants  are 
so  deaf  to  the  language  of  the  rod,  as  to  continue  in 
the  nefarious  traffic  for  slaves  to  the  coasts  of  Africa: 
and  that  the  introduction  of  them  into  these  United 
States  is,  in  some  places,  still  connived  at;  this  meet- 
ing, considering  such  a  conduct  as  a  bold  and  impious 
defiance  of  the  Ruler  of  nations,  and  pregnant  with 
the  most  alarming  consequences  to  our  country,  earn- 


/ 


SLAVE  TRADE  AND  SLAVERY. 


129 


estly  recommends  to  the  meeting  for  Sufferings,  to 
embrace  every  suitable  opportunity  for  advancing  our 
testimony  in  this  respect,  and  for  calhng  the  attention 
of  the  public  mind  to  this  awfully  interesting  subject. 
—1786, 1787, 1806,  1834. 

If  any  of  our  members  are  in  the  practice  of  hiring 
a  slave  or  slaves  to  assist  them  in  their  business,  and 
the  compensation  for  such  services,  is  to  be  appropri- 
ated to  the  benefit  of  those,  who  claim  the  right  of 
ownership  over  such  of  these  poor  people  who  are  thus 
held  in  bondage,  and  not  designed  or  intended  to  be 
applied  to  promote  their  liberation ;  as  this  is  a  viola- 
tion of  our  testimony,  such  members  should  be  treated 
with,  and  after  patient  labour  has  been  unavailing, 
monthly  meetings  should  testify  their  disunity  with 
them — 1824,  1834. 


R 


« 

130 


SPIRITUOUS  LiaUORS. 


Advised,  that  Friends  carefully  avoid  all  vain  and 
idle  company,  sipping  and  tippling  of  drams  and 
strong  drink;  for  though  such  who  are  in  that  evil 
practice  may  not  suddenly  become  drunken  to  the 
greatest  degree,  yet  they  often  thereby  become  like 
ground  fitted  for  the  seeds  of  the  greatest  transgres- 
sions; and  some  who  have  had  the  good  example  of 
virtuous  parents,  have,  from  small  beginnings,  arrived 
at  a  shameful  excess,  to  their  ruin,  the  great  injury  of 
their  wives  and  families,  and  the  scandal  of  the  reli- 
gious  profession  they  have  made. — 170G,  1737.  . 

It  having  been  observed  that  a  pernicious  custom 
has  prevailed  in  some  places,  of  giving  rum  and  other 
strong  liquors  to  excite  some  to  bid  at  vendues  to 
advance  the  price,  which,  besides  the  injustice  of  the 
artifice,  is  scandalous,  and  leads  to  intemperance  and 
disorder;  it  is  therefore  the  unanimous  sense  of  this 
meeting  to  testify  against  the  same.  And  if  any  in 
membership  w  ith  us,  do  fall  into  the  evil  practice  of 
giving  or  taking  spirituous  liquors  at  vendues,  they 
should  be  speedily  dealt  with  as  disorderly  persons, 
and  if  they  cannot  be -brought  to  a  sense  of  their 
error,  disowned — 1726, 1734, 


SPIRITUOUS  LIQUORS. 


131 


Many  just  and  pertinent  remarks  being  made  in 
this  meeting,  clearly  setting  forth  the  corrupting,  de- 
basing, and  ruinous  effects,  consequent  on  the  impor- 
tation and  retailing  large  quantities  of  distilled  spirits, 
whereby  the  intemperate  use  of  them  is  greatly  aided 
and  encouraged,  to  the  impoverishment  of  many,  dis- 
tempering the  constitutions  and  understandings  of 
many  more,  and  increasing  vice  and  dissoluteness  in 
the  land,  wherewith  man)'^  religiously  attentive  minds 
have  been  long  painfully  burdened;  it  is  the  united 
sense  of  the  meeting,  that  well  concerned  Friends  in 
all  quarters,  be  earnestly  excited  to  suffer  the  affecting 
importance  of  this  mighty  evil,  religiously  to  affect 
their  minds,  and  animate  them  with  a  lively  concern 
and  honest  endeavours,  both  by  example  and  loving 
entreaty,  to  caution  and  dissuade  all  our  members, 
from  being  concerned  in  the  importation  or  selling 
distilled  spirits,  or  giving  countenance  thereto. — 
1784,  1787. 

Under  the  weight  and  pressure  of  the  deeply  inte- 
resting concern  for  the  maintenance  of  our  Christian 
testimony  against  the  trading  in,  and  use  of  distilled 
spirituous  liquors,  that  a  gradual  and  steady  advance- 
ment thereof  may  in  no  respect  be  impeded,  quarterly 
and  monthly  meetings  are  afresh  urged  to  renewed, 
patient,  persevering  labour,  with  such  as  are  in  the 
practice  of  using,  or  giving  them  out  as  an  article  of 
drink;  manifesting,  that  if  continued  in  by  any  of  our 
members,  it  cannot  admit  of  any  countenance  while 


132 


SPIRITUOUS  LIQUORS. 


there  is  a  faithful  adherence  to  the  Divine  principle  of 
good  will  to  men. — 1796. 

If  any  in  membership  with  us  should  distil,  trade  in, 
or  sell  distilled  spirituous  liquors,  except  it  be  for  me- 
dicinal or  chemical  purposes,  monthly  meetings  should 
treat  with  them  as  with  other  offenders,  and  if  they 
are  not  prevailed  with  to  desist  from  the  practice, 
they  should  testify  our  disunity  with  them. — 1834. 


133 


STOCK. 


Agreed,  that  there  be  collections  brought  in  from 
each  quarterly,  unto  the  next  yearly  meeting,  for  a 
yearly  meeting  stock,  to  defray  the  charges  of  the 
said  meeting,  according  to  the  several  agreements 
made,  or  hereafter  to  be  made. — 1695. 

A  stock  having  been  generally  kept,  and  by  experi- 
ence found  useful,  for  the  necessary  occasions  of  the 
Society,  it  is  agreed,  that  the  same  be  occasionally 
renewed  by  a  collection  from  each  quarter,  and  that  it 
be  continued  in  the  hands  of  the  treasurer  appointed 
by  this  meeting,  and  subject  to  be  drawn  out  by  its 
direction  or  by  the  meeting  for  Sufferings,  as  the  exi- 
gencies of  Society  may  require. 

The  sums  which  may  be  thought  necessary,  shall 
be  raised  by  each  quarter,  in  the  proportions  which 
may  be  directed  by  this  meeting  from  time  to 
time. 

An  arrangement  of  the  quotas  of  the  several  quar- 
terly meetings,  produced  by  a  committee  appointed 
for  that  purpose,  was  agreed  to  in  1831,  as  fol- 
lows:— 


134 


STOCK. 


Philadelphia  Quarter  to  pay  33  dollars  in  every  $100 


Abingtoii 

do. 

7 

ditto. 

Joucks 

do. 

7 

1  '4.4.  A 

ditto. 

Concord 

do. 

10 

ditto. 

Cain 

do. 

7 

ditto. 

Western 

do. 

7 

ditto. 

Burlington 

do. 

11 

ditto. 

Haddonfield 

do. 

11 

ditto. 

Salem 

do. 

5 

ditto. 

Shrewsbury  and  Railway 

2 

dittos 

$100 


135 


TAVERNS. 


We  think  it  necessary  to  caution  not  only  the  youth, 
but  those  of  riper  age,  to  avoid  the  unnecessary  atten- 
dance at  taverns,  and  that  they  maintain  a  watchful 
religious  guard  respecting  other  places  of  public  resort: 
that  they  be  not  exposed  to  noisy  company,  and  un- 
profitable conversation ;  or  betrayed  into  the  use  of 
strong  liquors,  by  which  so  many  have  been  corrupted 
both  in  principle  and  practice,  to  the  ruin  of  them- 
selves and  their  families.  And  if  any  are  in  danger 
on  these  accounts,  it  is  desired  that  they  may  be  timely 
and  tenderly  treated  with,  in  order  to  convince  them  of 
their  perilous  situation. — 1746,  1834. 

Considering  the  tempations  and  snares  which  they 
are  exposed  to,  who  keep  houses  of  public  entertain- 
ment, or  beer  houses,  the  corrupting  influence  of  many 
who  resort  ^o  them,  and  its  effect  on  the  children  and 
families  so  exposed;  it  is  the  judgment  of  this  meeting, 
that  our  members  avoid  engaging  in  such  employments 
for  a  livelihood ;  and  attend  to  the  pointings  of  pure 
wisdom  for  that  end — 1777. 

And  it  is  desired  that  Friends  may  endeavour,  as 
far  as  their  influence  extends  in  the  community,  to  pre- 
vent the  unnecessary  increase  of  taverns,  and  be  cau- 
tious of  signing  petitions  in  behalf  of  those  who  may 
apply  for  licenses  on  that  account. — 1738. 


136 


TRADE. 


It  being  evident  that  where  the  manifestations  and 
restraints  of  the  Spirit  of  Truth  are  duly  prized  and 
regarded,  it  leads  out  of  a  bondage  to  the  spirit  of  this 
world,  and  preserves  the  minds  of  its  followers  from 
many  fettering  and  disqualifying  entanglements ;  and 
contrarywise,  that  an  inordinate  love  and  pursuit  of 
worldly  riches,  often  betrays  those  who  are  captivated 
by  them,  into  many  difficulties  and  dangers,  to  the  great 
obstruction  of  the  work  of  Truth  in  the  heart;  we  af- 
fectionately desire  that  the  counsel  and  gracious  prom- 
ise of  our  blessed  Redeemer  to  his  followers,  may  be 
remembered  and  duly  regarded  by  us,  "  Seek  ye  first 
the  kingdom  of  God  and  his  righteousness,  and  all 
these  things  shall  be  added  unto  you." — 1G95  to  1746. 

This  meeting  being  earnestly  concerned  that  the  ser- 
vice of  our  religious  Society  may  not  be  obstructed,  or 
its  reputation  dishonoured,  by  any  imprudence  of  its 
members  in  their  worldly  engagements,  recommends 
to  all,  that  they  be  careful  not  to  venture  upon  such 
business  as  they  do  not  well  understand;  nor  to  launch 
out  in  trade  beyond  their  abilities,  and  at  the  risk  of 
others ;  especially  on  the  credit  which  may  be  derived 
from  a  profession  of  the  Truth ;  but  that  they  bound 
their  engagements  by  their  means ;  and  when  they  en- 
ter into  contracts,  or  give  their  words,  that  they  en- 
deavour on  all  occasions  strictly  to  fulfil  them. 


TRADE. 


137 


We  particularly  exhort,  that  none  engage  in  such 
concerns,  as  depend  on  the  often  deceptive  probabilities 
of  hazardous  enterprises;  but  rather  content  them- 
selves with  such  a  plain  and  moderate  way  of  living, 
as  is  consistent  with  the  self-denying  principle  we 
make  profession  of;  whereby  many  disappointments 
and  grievous  perplexities  may  be  avoided,  and  that 
tranquillity  of  mind  obtained,  which  is  inseparable  from 
the  right  enjoyment  even  of  temporal  things.  And  it 
is  advised,  that  where  any  among  us  err,  or  are  in 
danger  of  erring  in  these  respects,  they  be  faithfully 
and  timely  admonished. — 1724  to  1746. 

Where  overseers  or  other  concerned  Friends,  have 
reason  to  fear  that  any  person  or  family,  by  living 
above  their  means,  or  from  a  want  of  punctuality  in 
fulfilling  their  contracts,  or  any  other  cause,  are  de- 
clining in  their  circumstances,  and  likely  to  fail,  it  is 
recommended  that  such  be  seasonably  treated  with, 
and,  if  it  appear  requisite,  advised  to  call  their  credi- 
tors together  without  delay.  And  if,  notwithstanding 
this  advice,  such  persons  still  persist  and  run  into  em- 
barrassment, to  the  loss  of  others  and  to  their  own  dis- 
reputation, the  preparative  and  thence  the  monthly 
meeting  to  which  they  bclonor,  ought  to  be  timely  in- 
formed thereof,  and  proceed  to  deal  with  them  accord- 
mg  to  our  rules ;  when,  if  this  labour  also  prove  inef- 
fectual, a  testimony  of  denial  is  to  be  issued  against 
them.— 1710. 

It  is  recommended  that  Friends  frequently  inspect 

S 


138 


TRADE. 


the  state  of  their  ciffairs,  and  keep  their  accounts  so 
clear  and  accurate,  that  they  may,  at  any  time,  easily 
know  whether  they  live  within  the  bounds  of  their 
circumstances  or  not;  and,  in  case  of  death,  that  these 
may  not  be  perplexing  to  survivors.  And  whenever 
any  find  that  they  have  no  more  property  left  than  is 
sufficient  to  discharge  their  just  debts,  it  is  advised, 
that  they  immediately  consult  with  some  judicious 
Friends,  and,  without  loss  of  time,  make  their  circum- 
stances known  to  their  creditors,  carefully  avoiding 
the  payment  of  one  in  preference  to  another,  that  so 
none  may  be  injured,  nor  any  reproach  be  incurred  by 
mismanagement. — 1782. 

It  is  advised  that  where  failures  occur,  and  the  cases 
are  under  the  care  of  monthly  meetings,  that  the 
Friends  appointed  to  visit  the  parties,  inquire  of  their 
assignees  or  trustees  how  their  deficiencies  have  hap- 
pened, and  report  accordingly. — It  is  the  judgment  of 
this  meeting,  that  neither  monthly  nor  other  meetings 
should  receive  subscriptions,  donations,  or  bequests, 
from  persons  so  circumstanced,  until  they  have  paid 
off  their  deficiencies,  or  are  voluntarily  acquitted 
thereof  by  their  creditors:  for  it  should  be  remem- 
bered, that  though,  in  such  cases,  the  defaulter  may 
have  been  legally  discharged,  the  property  he  may 
afterwards  acquire  is  not  properly  his  own,  till  he  has 
fairly  paid  off  his  former  debts,  to  the  satisfaction  of 
the  creditors.  Wherefore  we  further  advise,  that  if  any 
such  person  or  persons,  on  being  suitably  reminded 
of  their  duty  in  this  respect,  shall  refiise  to  comply 


TRADE. 


139 


therewith,  inquiry  be  made  into  the  reason,  and  if  it 
be  not  such  as  shall  satisfy  the  monthly  meetings  of 
which  they  are  members,  and  they  cannot  be  prevailed 
with,  the  said  meetings,  after  a  proper  time  of  labour 
and  forbearance,  should  issue  a  testimony  of  denial 
against  them. — 1782. 

Advised,  that  whe  Friends  accept  the  office  of 
trustee  or  assignee,  they  be  active  in  collecting  the 
effects  of  the  estate,  and  punctual  and  speedy  in 
making  distribution. — That  Friends  every  where 
carefully  avoid  being  any  way  concerned  in  defraud- 
ing the  government  of  its  duties;  that  so  our  ancient 
testimony  in  this  respect  may  be  inviolably  main- 
tained.—1755,  1796. 

If  any  member  is  complained  of  for  withholding  a 
just  debt,  he  or  she  should  be  tenderly  urged  to  pay- 
ment; and  if  this  is  unavailing,  be  dealt  with  as  in 
other  cases  of  disorderly  conduct.  And  if  any  of  our 
members  appear  unable  to  satisfy  their  creditors,  they 
should  be  advised  to  call  them  together  without  loss 
of  time,  and  submit  the  state  of  their  affairs  to  their 
inspection:  when,  if  the  creditors  apprehend  a  surren- 
der of  the  debtor's  effects  to  assignees,  for  the  benefit 
of  the  whole,  to  be  necessary,  let  him  or  her  be  earn- 
estly entreated  to  consent;  and  if  they  refuse  so  to  do, 
the  monthly  meeting  should  be  informed  thereof; 
when,  if  the  party  still  persists  in  refusing,  he  or  she 
should  be  disowned  without  too  long  delay. — 1710, 
1719,  1806. 


140 


TRADE. 


It  is  the  judgment  of  this  meeting,  that  if  persons 
so  failing  in  their  circumstances,  should  at  any  time 
afterwards  be  favoured  with  full  ability  to  pay  off  their 
deficiencies,  justice  will  require  it  of  them,  notwith- 
standing a  composition  with,  and  legal  discharge  from 
their  creditors,  may  have  been  obtained.  This  is, 
however,  not  meant  to  furnish  any  creditor  with  a 
pretext  for  advancing  such  claims,  while  persons  so 
deficient  are  honestly  labouring  to  retrieve  their  cir- 
cumstances; nor  until  it  shall  clearly  appear  to  their 
respective  monthly  meetings,  or  to  a  solid  committee 
thereof,  that  a  sufficient  ability  is  arrived  at;  when,  if 
they  are  requested  to  comply,  and  persist  in  refusing, 
the  said  meetings  should  proceed  to  disown  them. 
—1710,  1719,  1806. 

We  warn  our  members  against  a  pernicious  prac- 
tice amongst  the  trading  part  of  the  community,  which 
has  often  issued  in  the  ruin  of  those  concerned  therein, 
viz.  that  of  raising  and  circulating  a  kind  of  paper 
credit,  with  endorsements,  to  give  it  an  appearance  of 
value,  without  an  intrinsic  reality;  a  practice  which, 
as  it  appears  to  be  inconsistent  with  the  truth  we  pro- 
fess, we  declare  our  disapprobation  of,  and  entreat 
every  member  of  our  Society  to  avoid  and  discourage. 

We  also  caution  all  in  membership  with  us  to  avoid 
entering  into  joint  securities  with  others,  under  the 
specious  plea  of  rendering  acts  of  kindness;  many  by 
so  doing,  having  been  suddenly  ruined,  and  their  inno- 
cent wives  and  children  reduced  to  deplorable  circum- 


TRADE. 


141 


stances.  "Be  not  thou,"  said  the  wise  man,  "  one  of 
them  that  strike  hands;  or  of  them  that  are  sureties 
for  debts.  If  thou  hast  nothing  to  pay,  why  should  he 
take  away  tiiy  bed  from  under  thee." — 1806. 

We  affectionately  desire,  that  Friends  may  humbly 
wait  for  Divine  counsel  in  all  their  engagements,  and 
duly  attend  to  the  secret  intimations  and  restrictions 
of  the  spirit  of  Truth  in  their  business  and  trading, 
not  suffering  their  minds  to  be  hurried  away  by  an 
inordinate  desire  of  worldly  riches;  remembering  the 
observation  of  the  Apostle  in  his  day,  and  so  often 
sorrowfully  verified  in  ours,  that  "  They  who  will  be 
rich,  fall  into  temptation  and  a  snare;"  and  erring 
from  the  faith,  "  pierce  themselves  through  with  many 
sorrows."  Even  when  riches,  to  any  extraordinary 
degree,  have  been  amassed  by  the  successful  industry 
of  parents,  how  often  have  they  proved  like  wings  to 
their  children,  carrying  them  beyond  the  limitations 
of  Truth,  into  liberties  repugnant  to  our  religious  tes- 
timonies, and  sometimes  into  enterprises,  which  have 
terminated  in  irreparable  damage  to  their  temporal 
affairs,  if  not  an  entire  forgetfulness  of  the  great  work 
of  the  soul's  salvation. — 180G. 

When  any  member  of  our  religious  Society,  in  trade 
or  business,  becomes  unable  to  discharge  his  or  her 
debts,  the  overseers  should  take  an  early  opportunity 
to  ascertain  the  circumstances  of  the  case,  and  spread 
the  same  before  the  preparative  meeting,  in  order  that 
it  may  be  regularly  forwarded  to  the  monthly  meeting; 


142 


TRADE. 


and  if  it  shall  appear  that  such  failure  has  arisen  from 
a  want  of  due  attention  to  the  advices  of  this  meeting, 
on  the  subject  of  trade  and  business,  and  has  brought 
reproach  on  our  religious  profession,  the  monthly 
meeting  should  issue  a  testimony  of  disownment  of  the 
individual. — 1816. 

It  is  also  the  judgment  of  this  meeting,  that  when 
any  of  our  members  are  about  to  assign  their  pro- 
perty, their  creditors  should  be  consulted,  if  practi- 
cable, and  have  the  liberty  of  appointing  assignees  to 
take  charge  of  the  effects;  which  should  be  assigned 
without  any  reservation  or  other  condition,  than  a  dis- 
tribution of  the  effects  among  the  creditors,  according 
to  their  respective  dues;  and  if  the  party  do  not  so 
proceed,  the  case  shall  be  issued  as  is  directed  in  the 
preceding  paragraph. — 1816. 


143 


WAR. 


Friends  are  exhorted  faithfully  to  adhere  to  our 
ancient  testimony  against  wars  and  fightings,  and  in 
no  way  to  unite  w  ith  any  in  warhl^e  measures,  either 
offensive  or  defensive,  that  by  the  inoffensiveness 
of  our  conduct,  we  may  convincingly  demonstrate 
ourselves  to  be  real  subjects  of  the  Messiah's  peaceful 
reign,  and  be  instrumental  in  the  promotion  thereof, 
towards  its  desired  completion ;  when,  according  to 
ancient  prophecy,  "  the  earth  shall  be  full  of  the  know- 
ledge of  the  Lord,  as  the  waters  cover  the  sea ;  and 
its  inhabitants  shall  learn  war  no  more." 

When  goods  have  been  distrained  from  any  Friends, 
on  account  of  their  refusal  to  pay  fines  for  non-per- 
formance of  military  services,  and  the  officers,  after 
deducting  the  fines  and  costs,  propose  to  return  the 
remainder,  it  is  the  sense  of  this  meeting,  that  Friends 
should  maintain  their  testimony  by  suffering,  and  not 
accept  such  overplus,  unless  the  same  or  a  part  of  it 
is  returned  without  a  change  of  the  species. — 1755. 

It  is  declared  to  be  the  sense  of  this  meeting,  that 
furnishing  wagons,  or  other  means  for  conveying  of 
military  stores,  is  a  military  service,  and  that  the  care 
of  elders,  overseers,  and  all  faithful  Friends,  should 


144 


WAR. 


be  extended  in  true  love  and  Cliristian  tenderness,  to 
such  as  deviate  herein,  in  order  to  convince  them  of 
their  error. — 1758. 

It  is  the  judgment  of  this  meeting,  that  a  tax,  levied 
for  the  purchasing  of  drums,  colours,  or  for  other 
warlike  uses,  cannot  be  paid  consistently  with  our 
Christian  testimony. — 1776. 

This  meeting  fervently  recommends  to  the  deep  at- 
tention of  all  our  members,  that  they  be  religiously 
guarded  against  approving  or  showing  the  least  con- 
nivance at  war,  either  by  attending  at,  or  viewing  of 
military  operations,  or  in  any  wise  encouraging  the 
unstable  deceitful  spirit  of  party,  by  joining  with  politi- 
cal devices  or  associations,  however  speciously  disguis- 
ed under  the  ensnaring  subtleties  commonly  attendant 
thereon ;  but  that  they  sincerely  labour  to  experience 
a  settlement  on  the  alone  sure  foundation,  of  pure  un- 
changeable Truth;  whereby,  through  the  prevalence 
of  unfeigned  Christian  love  and  good  will  to  men,  we 
may  convincingly  demonstrate,  that  the  kingdom  we 
seek  is  not  of  this  world.  A  kingdom  and  government 
whose  subjects  are  free  indeed !  redeemed  from  those 
captivating  lusts,  from  whence  come  wars  and  fight- 
ings.—1798. 

A  living  concern  for  the  advancement  of  our  testi- 
mony to  the  peaceable  kingdom  of  Christ,  continu- 
ing to  spread  in  many  minds,  we  fervently  desire  that 
the  members  of  our  religious  Society,  may  carefully 


WAR. 


145 


avoid  engaging  in  any  trade  or  business  promotive  of 
war;  sharing  or  partaking  of  the  spoils  of  war  by  pur- 
chasing or  selling  prize  goods ;  importing  or  shipping 
goods  in  armed  vessels ;  paying  taxes  for  the  express 
purpose  of  war;  grinding  of  grain,  feeding  of  cattle,  or 
selling  their  property  for  the  use  of  the  army :  that 
through  a  close  attention  to  the  monitions  of  Divine 
grace,  and  guarding  against  the  suppression  of  it 
either  in  themselves  or  others,  they  may  be  preserved 
in  a  conduct  consistent  with  our  holy  profession,  from 
wounding  the  minds  or  increasing  the  sufferings  of 
each  other ;  not  at  all  doubting,  that  he  to  whom  ap- 
pertains the  kingdom  and  the  power;  who  is  wonderful 
in  working,  will  continue  to  carry  on  and  perfect  his 
blessed  cause  of  peace  in  the  earth.  A  solid  attention 
to  this  concern  is  recommended  to  quarterly,  monthly, 
and  preparative  meetings,  and  to  our  brethren  in  gen- 
eral: it  being  the  judgment  of  this  meeting,  that  if  any 
of  our  members  do  either  openly  or  by  connivance,' 
pay  any  fine,  penalty  or  tax,  in  lieu  of  personal  service 
for  carrying  on  war ;  or  allow  their  children,  appren- 
tices or  servants  to  act  therein ;  or  are  concerned  in 
arming  or  equipping  vessels  with  guns,  or  in  dealing 
in  public  Certificates,  issued  as  a  compensation  for 
expenses  accrued,  or  services  performed  in  war;  that 
they  be  tenderly  dealt  with,  and  if  they  are  not 
brought  to  an  acknowledgment  of  their  error,  monthly 
meetings  should  proceed  to  testify  against  them. — 
1780,  1781. 

It  is  the  sense  and  judgment  of  this  meeting,  that 

T 


146 


WAR. 


it  is  inconsistent  with  our  religious  testimony  and  prin- 
ciple, for  any  Friend  to  pay  a  fine  or  tax,  levied  on 
them  on  account  of  their  refusal  to  serve  in  the  militia, 
although  such  fine  or  imposition  may  he  applied  to- 
wards defraying  the  expenses  of  civil  government. 
And  where  deviations  in  this  respect  occur,  tender 
dealing  and  advice  should  be  extended  to  the  party,  in 
order  to  their  convincement  and  restoration :  and  if 
this  proves  ineffectual,  monthly  meetings  should  pro- 
ceed to  testily  against  them. — 1790. 


147 


WILLS. 


Knowing  how  quickly  many  are  removed  by  death, 
it  is  weightily  recommended,  that  Friends  who  have 
estates  to  dispose  of,  be  advised  to  make  their  wills  in 
time  of  health,  and  strength  of  judgment,  and  therein 
to  direct  their  substance  as  in  justice  and  wisdom  may 
be  to  their  satisfaction  and  peace;  laying  aside  all 
resentment,  though  occasion  may  have  been  given, 
lest  it  should  go  with  them  to  the  grave;  remember- 
ing we  all  stand  in  need  of  mercy  and  forgiveness. 
Making  such  wills  in  due  time  can  shorten  no  one's 
days,  but  the  omission,  or  delay  thereof  to  a  time  of 
sickness,  when  the  mind  should  not  be  diverted  from 
a  solemn  consideration  of  the  approaching  awful 
period  of  life,  has  often  proved  very  injurious  to  many, 
and  been  the  occasion  of  creating  animosities  in  fami- 
lies, which  the  seasonable  performance  of  this  neces- 
sary duty  might  have  effectually  prevented. — 1691, 
1703. 

Friends  are  earnestly  recommended  to  employ  per- 
sons skilful  in  the  law,  and  of  good  repute,  to  make 
their  wills,  as  great  inconvenience  and  loss,  and  some- 
times the  ruin  of  families  have  happened  through  the 
unskilfulness  of  some,  who  have  taken  upon  them  to 
write  wills,  being  unqualified  to  act  in  a  matter  of  such 
importance. — 1782,  1801. 


148 


WILLS. 


And  all  Friends  who  may  become  executors  or  ad- 
ministrators, are  advised  to  make  a  full,  clear,  and 
perfect  inventory  of  the  estate  and  effects  of  the  de- 
ceased, early  after  the  interment,  as  many  difficulties 
and  disputes  have  arisen,  and  sometimes  injustice  been 
done  for  want  of  it,  or  by  deferring  it  too  long. — 
1801. 


149 


WOMEN'S  MEETINGS. 


Forasmuch  as  our  women's  meetings  for  Discipline 
were  set  up  and  established  in  Divine  wisdom,  and  by 
long  experience  have  been  found  of  advantage,  not  only 
to  the  Society  in  general,  but  to  the  youth  of  their 
own  sex  in  particular;  it  is  earnestly  desired,  that 
faithful  women  Friends,  may  be  encouraged  to  come 
up  to  the  help  of  their  brethren,  in  that  part  of  the 
Discipline  of  the  church,  properly  claiming  their  atten- 
tion and  care.  On  considering  the  nature  and  extent 
whereof,  it  is  apprehended  a  benefit  might  accrue,  by 
explicitly  setting  forth  their  distinct  allotment,  and 
separate  services  in  their  monthly  and  quarterly  meet- 
ings, and  also  in  their  yearly  meeting. — 1796. 

Women's  monthly  meetings ;  are.  First,  To  inspect 
and  relieve  the  wants  of  the  poor  of  their  own  sex; 
and  where  their  own  funds  are  insufficient,  they  are  to 
apply  to  the  men's  meetings  for  their  aid,  and  for  their 
concurrence,  as  cases  shall  require. 

Second, — To  take  cognizance  of  proposals  of  mar- 
riage, and  appoint  two  of  their  members  to  inquire 
into  the  conversation  and  clearness  of  the  woman; 
also,  two  to  the  oversight  of  the  marriage. 


150 


women's  meetings. 


Third, — They  tire  to  appoint  a  suitable  number  of 
overseers,  who  arc  to  treat  with  oiFcndcrs  of  their 
own  sex;  that  their  cases  be  laid  before  the  women's 
preparative  meeting,  and  if  needful,  the  same  should 
be  spread  before  their  monthly  meeting;  which  should 
proceed  to  deal  further  with  such  delinquents,  and  re- 
port the  result  of  their  labours  to  the  men's  meeting; 
and  if  further  dealing  is  expedient,  the  men  should  ap- 
point a  committee  to  unite  with  the  women  therein  ; 
the  report  of  which  joint  committee  is  to  be  made  to 
each  meeting;  and  the  women  having  considered  the 
same,  are  to  inform  the  men's  meeting  of  their  sense 
thereon,  and  the  subject  to  be  finally  resulted  by  the 
men.  But  when  a  case  is  brought  by  the  women  into 
the  men's  meeting,  if,  on  solid  consideration  there, 
further  dealing  does  not  appear  to  be  needful,  a  com- 
mittee of  men  Friends  should  be  appointed  to  prepare 
a  testimony  of  disownment,  which,  when  approved,  is 
to  be  sent  to  the  women's  meeting  for  their  concur- 
rence, and  care  in  delivering  it  to  the  party. — 1796. 

If  a  female  under  dealing  in  the  women's  meeting 
removes  into  the  compass  of  another  monthly  meet- 
ing; or  if  previous  to  or  after  such  removal,  her  con- 
duct has  been  such  as  to  require  her  being  dealt  with; 
and  her  residence  be  at  so  great  a  distance  as  to  ren- 
der it  inconvenient  for  the  monthly  meeting  to  which 
she  belongs,  it  should  by  minute  transmit  to  the 
monthly  meeting  of  women  Friends,  within  the  limits 
of  which  the  person  resides,  clear  information  of  the 
state  of  the  case,  and  request  its  care  in  dealing  with 


women's  meetings. 


151 


her  on  their  behalf:  and  when  the  monthly  meeting 
removed  from,  has  received  an  account  of  the  effect  of 
this  labour,  they  are  then  to  give  due  information  there- 
of to  their  respective  men's  monthly  meeting,  in  order 
that  the  business  may  be  finally  determined. — 1834. 

Fourth, — On  application  of  a  woman  for  admission 
into  membership,  after  a  religious  care  therein  hath 
been  exercised  by  women  overseers,  and  in  the  prepara- 
tive meeting,  as  the  case  may  require,  and  it  appear- 
ing proper  to  claim  the  attention  of  their  monthly 
meeting,  it  should  accordingly  be  referred  thereto; 
when,  if  no  obstruction  to  its  further  procedure  is  dis- 
covered, they  are  to  make  an  appointment  to  unite 
with  a  committee  of  men  Friends,  in  further  careful 
attention  to  the  business;  the  report  of  which  joint 
committee  is  to  be  made  to  each  meeting ;  and  the 
women's  meeting  having  considered  the  same,  are  to 
communicate  their  sense  thereon  to  the  men's  meet- 
ing, where  the  subject  shall  be  considered  and  finally 
resulted.— 179G,  1834. 

If  a  woman  who  has  been  disowned,  presents  to  the 
women's  monthly  meeting  an  acknowledgment  of  her 
offence,  and  applies  for  reinstatement  into  member- 
ship; unless  there  is  just  ground  of  uneasiness  and 
dissatisfaction  therewith,  they  are  to  lay  the  case  be- 
fore the  men's  monthly  meeting,  which  is  to  determine 
how  or  in  what  manner  it  is  to  be  issued:  but  if, 
although  the  way  docs  not  then  appear  clear  to  accept 
the  said  ofiering,  the  men's  meeting  shall  judge  that 


152 


women's  meetings. 


religious  care  therein  sliould  be  extended  by  a  visit  to 
the  party  or  otherwise,  the  women's  meeting  is  to 
make  an  appointment  to  join  a  committee  of  men 
Friends  for  this  purpose,  the  report  of  which  joint 
committee  is  to  be  made  to  each  meeting;  and  the 
women's  meeting  having  considered  the  same,  are  to 
communicate  their  sense  thereon  to  the  men's  meet- 
ing, where  the  case  is  to  be  considered  and  finally 
resulted.— 1834. 

■  If  a  person,  while  under  dealing  in  the  women's 
monthly  meeting,  makes  an  acknowledgment  of  her 
transgression,  and  the  meeting,  on  an  impartial  solid 
consideration  thereof,  believes  that  she  is  not  in  a 
state  to  make  such  an  offering  as  embraces  the  nature 
of  the  case,  and  gives  evidence  of  true  conviction, 
they  are  to  extend  such  further  care  therein,  as  may 
appear  requisite;  and  when  they  shall  have  discharged 
their  duty,  and  feel  clear  of  the  case,  they  are  to 
inform  the  men's  monthly  meeting  that  such  a  case 
had  engaged  their  care  and  labour,  and  that  although 
the  party  had  presented  an  acknowledgment,  yet  their 
meeting,  upon  weighty  deliberation,  was  not  easy  to 
encourage  its  acceptance;  and  then  leave  it  to  the 
judgment  and  decision  of  the  men's  meeting:  but  if 
they  should  be  satisfied  that  an  individual  under 
dealing  has  been  brought  to  a  due  sense  of  her  de- 
viation, they  are  to  impart  the  whole  case  to  the 
men's  meeting ;  and  unless  this  meeting  is  most  easy 
then  to  conclude  the  business,  the  women  are  to  make 
an  appointment  to  unite  with  a  committee  of  men 


women's  meetings. 


153 


Friends,  in  renewed  religious  attention  thereto;  the 
report  of  which  united  committee  is  to  be  made  to 
each  meeting,  and  determined  in  hke  manner  as  before 
directed. — The  authority  for  disowning  a  member,  or 
receiving  a  person  into  membership,  nmst  always  rest 
in  the  men's  meeting. — 1834. 

Fifths — They  are  to  join  in  certificates  of  removal 
for  women  Friends ;  in  order  whereto,  the  women's 
monthly  meeting  is  to  appoint  two  or  more  of  their 
members  to  make  the  necessary  inquiry,  that  the  same 
may  be  prepared;  which,  after  being  considered  in 
the  women's,  is  to  be  laid  before  the  men's  meeting ; 
and  when  there  approved  and  signed,  returned  to  the 
women's  meeting  for  their  signature;  but  if  the  certifi- 
cate is  intended  to  include  one  or  more  males,  they 
are  then  to  report  the  result  of  their  inquiry  to  the 
Friends  named  on  the  like  inquiry  by  the  men's  meet- 
ing; and  the  certificate,  after  having  been  prepared, 
approved  and  signed,  in  the  men's  meeting,  is  to  be 
sent  to  the  women's  meeting  for  their  concurrence  and 
signing.  All  certificates  received  for  women  Friends, 
are  to  be  laid  before  the  men's  meeting,  before  they  can 
be  fully  accepted  by  the  women's  meeting. — 1796. 

Sixths — When  a  female  minister  apprehends  herself 
under  a  religious  engagement  to  travel  in  the  service 
of  Truth,  she  is  first  to  spread  her  concern  before  the 
women's  monthly  meeting,  and  if  united  with,  the 
same  is  to  be  laid  before  the  men's  meeting,  whose 
result  is  to  be  communicated  to  the  women's  meeting ; 

U 


154 


women's  meetings. 


and  when  a  certificate  for  that  purpose  is  prepared  by 
a  committee  of  men  and  women  Friends,  and  being 
approved  and  signed  by  the  men's  meeting,  it  is  to  be 
sent  to  the  women's  meeting  for  their  concurrence  and 
signing. — 1796. 

Seventh^ — Respecting  the  nomination  of  an  elder, 
see  the  rule  under  the  head  "  Ministers  and  Elders," 
page  89. 

Eighth^ — The  women's  preparative  meetings,  where 
more  than  one  constitutes  a  monthly  meeting,  are  to 
consider  and  answer  the  queries;  which  is  likewise  to 
be  done  in  their  monthly  meetings;  from  which  they 
are  to  report  the  state  of  each  monthly  meeting,  to 
their  respective  quarterly  meeting;  to  attend  which  as 
their  representatives,  they  should  nominate  two  or 
more  of  their  members. — 1796. 

Women's  meetings  are  to  answer  no  other  than  the 
first  eight  queries,  as  usual;  but  it  is  desired,  that  in 
their  monthly  meetings,  care  may  be  extended  to  con- 
vey to  the  men's  meeting,  such  information  as  may  be 
necessary  for  the  preservation  of  a  regular  record  of 
births  and  deaths. — 1807. 

WOMEN'S  QUARTERLY  MEETINGS. 

Firsts — When  a  female  minister,  under  a  religious 
concern  to  travel  in  the  service  of  Truth,  produces  to 
the  quarterly  meeting  a  certificate  of  the  approbation 


women's  meetings. 


155 


of  the  monthly  meeting  of  which  she  is  a  member,  if 
the  concern  is  concurred  with  in  the  women's  meeting, 
it  is  to  be  submitted  to  the  men's  meeting,  and  when 
approved,  an  endorsement  to  that  effect  should  be  made 
on  the  certificate,  signed  by  the  clerk,  and  returned  to 
the  women's  meeting,  for  signing  by  their  clerk. 

Second, — They  are  to  receive  the  written  accounts 
sent  from  the  respective  women's  monthly  meetings, 
and  transmit  the  collected  answers  to  the  queries,  with 
such  other  matters  as  appear  needful,  to  the  women's 
yearly  meeting ;  to  attend  the  service  whereof,  each 
quarterly  meeting  is  to  appoint  a  suitable  number  of 
representatives.    See  Discipline. 

Third, — They  are  to  communicate  to  their  respec- 
tive monthly  meetings,  such  advices  as  they  apprehend 
necessary,  with  any  epistles  or  writings  issued  for 
that  purpose  by  their  yearly  meeting ;  nominate  com- 
mittees, at  the  request  of  the  men's  meeting,  to  visit 
their  monthly  meetings,  or  for  any  other  service  which 
the  men's  meeting  shall  judge  expedient;  and  in  all 
respects  they  are  to  attend  to  those^  matters  which 
may  properly  come  under  the  notice  and  care  of 
women's  quarterly  meetings. — 1796. 

YEARLY  MEETING  OF  WOMEN  FRIENDS, 

Held  annually  in  Philadelphia,  at  the  time  of  hold- 
ing this  meeting;  is  at  liberty  to  correspond  with  any 
other  yearly  meetings  of  their  own  sex,  either  in 


156 


women's  meetings. 


America  or  elsewhere,  and  to  issue  such  counsel  and 
admonition  to  their  own  quarterly  and  monthly  meet- 
ings, as  in  the  wisdom  of  Truth  shall  appear  condu- 
cive to  real  benefit  and  mutual  edification ;  but  the 
said  yearly  meeting  is  not  to  hear  or  determine  on 
any  appeal,  nor  at  liberty  to  make  or  alter  any  rules 
of  Discipline  or  queries. — 1G85. 

They  are  to  have  a  stock  of  their  own,  for  such 
services  as  may  fall  more  properly  under  their  notice. 
—1705. 

Finally,  it  is  desired  that  a  fair  record  be  kept  of 
the  minutes  and  proceedings  of  the  yearly,  quarterly 
and  monthly  meetings  of  women  Friends;  and  that 
annually  their  representatives  to  the  yearly  meeting, 
exercise  a  proper  religious  care  in  the  choice  of  a 
clerk.— 1796. 

At  the  request  of  the  men's  meetings,  their  monthly, 
quarterly  and  yearly  meetings,  are  to  appoint  commit- 
tees, to  unite  with  like  committees  of  the  men's  meet- 
ings, in  the  setting  up  or  laying  down  of  preparative, 
monthly  and  quarterly  meetings. — 1834. 


157 


YEARLY  MEETING. 


It  appears  by  the  records,  that  the  first  yearly 
meeting  was  held  at  Burlington,  New- Jersey,  the  31st 
day  of  the  Cth  month,  1681,  old  style,  for  the  pro- 
vinces of  Pennsylvania  and  New-Jersey.  Although 
in  the  early  settlement  of  Friends  in  this  country, 
several  meetings  were  held  which  were  then  called 
yearly  meetings ;  yet  in  1683,  it  being  clearly  evident 
that  a  meeting  ought  to  be  constituted,  which  should 
be  vested  with  a  superintending  care  and  jurisdiction, 
over  all  the  meetings  in  those  two  provinces  and  parts 
adjacent;  the  yearly  meetings  in  other  provinces  were 
accordingly  informed  of  this  concern,  and  requested 
to  give  their  judgment  upon  a  proposition  so  import- 
ant and  interesting  to  the  Society:  a  united  concur- 
rence therewith  being  freely  given,  and  Friends  from 
New-Jersey  and  Pennsylvania,  together  with  a  number 
of  Friends  from  other  parts,  having  generally  assem- 
bled at  the  yearly  meeting  held  in  Philadelphia,  the 
15th  of  7th  month,  1685,  it  was  then  unanimously 
concluded,  that  henceforward  there  should  be  one 
yearly  and  general  meeting,  held  for  the  provinces  of 
Pennsylvania  and  New-Jersey;  the  next  year  at  Bur- 
lington, and  the  following  year  at  Philadelphia,  and  so 
on  alternately.  It  was  further  concluded,  that  Friends 
in  the  ministry  should  meet  together  on  first-day 


158 


YEARLY  MEETING. 


morning,  at  the  seventh  hour,  before  the  public  gene- 
ral meetings. 

The  yearly  meeting  having  assembled  at  Burlington 
at  the  time  appointed,  in  1686,  it  was  opened  under  the 
title  of  "  A  General  Yearly  Meeting  held  for  Friends 
of  Pennsylvania,  East  and  West  Jerseys,  and  of  the 
adjacent  Provinces."  At  this  meeting  it  was  con- 
cluded, that  two  or  more  Friends  be  appointed  out  of 
every  quarterly  meeting,  to  attend  the  meeting  as 
representatives;  and  such  accordingly  attended  in 
that  capacity,  in  1687.  The  yearly  meeting  thus 
constituted  and  established,  continuing  to  be  held 
alternately  at  Burlington  and  Philadelphia,  the  time 
of  holding  it  was,  in  1755,  changed  to  the  9th  month, 
present  style.  In  1760,  it  was  concluded  to  be  held 
at  the  same  time  in  Philadelphia  only;  and  in  1798, 
the  time  of  holding  it  was  altered  to  the  third  Second 
day  in  the  4th  month,  as  it  now  is.  The  yearly 
meeting  of  ministers  and  elders,  to  be  on  the  Seventh 
day  of  the  week  preceding;  and  both  to  begin  at  the 
tenth  hour. 

It  is  agreed,  that  such  Friends  as  may  be  appointed 
to  prepare  Epistles,  shall  meet  together  before  they 
proceed  on  the  service;  and  subsequently,  that  they 
examine  the  several  essays  previously  to  their  being 
laid  before  this  meeting. — 1724. 

All  letters  or  papers  directed  to  the  yearly  meeting, 
except  from  such  meetings  as  regularly  correspond 


YEARLY  MEETING.  159 

therewith,  are  to  be  first  perused  by  a  few  Friends  to 
be  appointed,  who  are  to  consider  and  report  whether 
the  same  be  proper  to  be  read  in  this  meeting  or  not. 
The  same  order  is  to  be  observed  in  the  quarterly  and 
monthly  meetings,  as  regards  any  papers  offered  to 
their  notice,  which  are  not  recognised  or  provided  for 
in  the  rules  of  our  Discipline. — 1695,  1834. 

The  representatives  appointed  by  the  quarterly 
meetings,  are  to  stay  together  at  the  close  of  the  first 
sitting  of  the  yearly  meeting,  in  each  year,  to  consider 
of  a  suitable  Friend  to  serve  the  meeting  as  clerk,  and 
a  Friend  to  assist  him ;  and  to  make  report  to  the 
next  sittmg  of  the  meeting.  The  clerk  of  the  preced- 
ing year  is,  according  to  our  ancient  practice,  to  act 
as  clerk  until  another  is  appointed  by  the  yearly  meet- 
ing; but  if,  through  sickness,  or  any  other  cause,  he 
is  likely  to  be  prevented  from  attending,  the  meeting 
for  Sufferings,  previous  to  the  commencement  of  the 
yearly  meeting,  is  to  take  due  care  that  the  business 
which  is  to  come  before  the  meeting,  be  not  obstructed 
or  delayed,  for  want  of  requisite  attention  to  the  re- 
ports and  documents  which  are  forwarded;  that  thus 
the  meeting  may  be  regularly  opened  at  the  time  ap- 
pointed.— 1834. 

When  extracts  from  the  minutes  of  this  meeting  are 
ordered  to  be  sent  to  the  quarterly  meetings,  a  full 
copy  shall  be  sent  by  each  of  those  meetings  to  their 
respective  monthly  meetings,  and  by  the  monthly  to 
each  of  their  preparative  meetings,  in  order  that  each 


160 


YEARLY  MEETING. 


meeting  may  have  a  copy  thereof,  to  have  recourse  to 
as  occasions  may  require. — 1754. 

The  certificates  of  such  Friends,  members  of  other 
yearly  meetings,  who,  from  a  rcHgious  concern  are 
drawn  to  attend  this,  are  to  be  read  herein. — 1801. 


INDEX. 


A. 

Page 

ACC0M3I0DATI0N  PAPER  in  trade,  disapproved,    ...  140 

ACCOUNTS  of  Sufferings  to  be  forwarded  annually,      ...  57 

Mode  of  stating  them,    .   82 

Of  places  of  deposit  of  papers,  minutes,  title  deeds,  &c.       .  78 
Of  deceased  ministers  and  elders  to  be  forwarded  yearly,       86, 116 
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS— to  be  prepared  in  writing,  submitted  to 

overseers,  and  may  be  presented  by  the  party,          .       .  7 

If  the  party  resides  within  the  limits  of  a  distant  Monthly  meet- 
ing, it  is  to  be  written  to,   ib. 

Not  always  to  recite  causes  of  disownment,    ....  8 

Not  read  in  meetings  for  worship,   ib. 

Of  persons  marrying  deceased  sister's  husband,     ...  ib. 

Of  offences  to  remove  scandal,   35 

Hasty  acceptance  of,  injurious,   76 

Of  disowned  females  for  reinstatement,  how  treated,     .      .  151 

Of  females  under  care,    .   152 

ADMINISTRATORS,  EXECUTORS,  Sec.  to  resort  to  law  where  it 

appears  indispensable,   18 

Not  to  act  where  there  are  slaves  bequeathed,       .       .       .  128 

To  make  complete  inventory  early  after  interment,  .  .  148 
ADMISSIONS  of  persons  into  membership,    ....        39, 151 

ADVICES  to  be  read  annually   115 

AFFAIRS  of  the  church,  how  conducted,      ....  56,116 

outward,  to  be  inspected  annually,   115 

APPAREL,  plainness  of,   109 

APPEALS,   9 

Appellant  to  be  furnished  with  minute,  or  testimony  of  disunion,  ib. 

To  notify  the  first  or  second  monthly  meeting,      ...  ib. 

Committee  or  respondents  to  be  appointed  to  attend  the  Quar- 
ter, with  minutes  of  the  proceedings,  signed  by  the  clerk  or 

clerks,   ib. 

Notification  tobe  read  in  Quarterly  meeting  after  representatives 

are  called,   ib. 

Committee  appointed  to  hear  appellant,        ....  ib. 

Appellant  and  respondents  may  each  object  to  three,    .      .  10 

X 


162 


INDEX. 


Page 


Parties  not  to  digress  from  the  subject,  nor  any  member  to  ex- 
press an  opinion  in  their  presence   10 

Keport  in  writing,  annulling  or  confirming  the  decision  below,  11 

Eaily  information  to  be  given  to  parties,        ....  ib. 

Decision  of  Monthly  meeting  to  be  affirmed,  in  a  breach  of 

Discipline,  where  proceedings  have  been  correct,     .       .  ib. 

Kight  to  appeal  to  Yearly  meeting ;  to  notify  the  next  Quarterly 

meeting,   ib. 

Respondents  to  be  appointed  to  attend  Yearly  meeting  with 

certified  copies  of  proceedings  of  both  meetings,        .       .  12 

Appointment  of  Yearly  meeting  committee  and  course  pursued,  12, 13 

Monthly  meetings  may  appeal  from  the  decision  of  the  Quar- 
terly,   13 

Appellant  not  appearing  loses  his  right,  unless  prevented  by 

sufficient  cause,   14 

Appeals  to  a  Quarter,  composed  of  two  Monthly  meetings,  to  be 

referred  to  Yearly  meeting,         ......  ib. 

APPOINTMENTS  in  meetings  to  be  made  with  care,    ...  57 

APPRENTICES  removing,  their  guardians  to  apply  for  certificates,  30 

And  children  to  be  encour.iged  to  attend  divine  worship,     .  84 

ARBITRATIONS,    15 

Party  aggrieved  to  request  the  other  to  comply  with  the  demand 

in  presence  of  overseers,   ib. 

Choice  of  arbitrators,  and  bond  to  abide  their  decision,         .  ib. 

Arbitrators  to  jiroceed  promptly,  listening  to  neither  party  sepa- 
rately, nor  disclosing  their  opinions,          ....  ib. 

Either  party  refusing  to  submit  the  matter,  give  attendance,  or 
.ibide  by  the  award,  to  be  complained  of  to  Preparative  or 

Monthly  meeting,   16 

An  erroneous  or  unjust  award  cause  of  rehearing,        .       .  ib. 

The  matter  again  referred  if  the  meeting  thinks  proper,  and  on 

further  refusal  to  comply,  to  be  disowned,         ...  ib. 

Arbitrators  may  consult  counsel  in  the  law,    ....  ib. 

They  should  shun  previous  information,  and  stand  unbiassed,  17 

To  reject  no  evidence,  nor  receive  any  in  absence  of  parties,  ib. 

Circumstances  which  warrant  an  appeal  to  the  law,       .       .  ib. 

Certain  cases  to  be  settled  without  reference,       ...  18 

Preparative  meeting  to  appoint  a  committee  to  judge,  and  the 

matter  disposed  of  accordingly,         .....  ib. 

Advised  that  ministers  be  not  employed  as  arbitrators,  .       .  19 

ARDENT  SPIRITS— See  Spirituous  Liquors   130 

Distilling,  or  trading  in,  disownable,   132 


INDEX. 


163 


Page 


ARMING  VESSELS,  or  shipping  in  them,  testified  against,         .  145 

ASCENSION  of  Jesus  Christ,   125 

ASSIGNEES,  or  Trustees,  to  be  prompt  in  discharging  duties,     .  139 

ASSIGNMENTS  of  insolvent  persons  to  be  without  reservation,    .  142 

ATONEMENT  of  Jesus  Christ,   25,36,37 

AUTHORITY  of  meetings — the  love,  power  and  spirit  of  Christ,  .  57 

B. 

BANKRUPTCY,  a  cause  for  proceeding  at  law,  ....  17 
Inquiry  to  be  made  into  the  causes  of,    .       .       .       .        138, 141 

Subscriptions,  &c.  not  to  be  taken  from  bankrupts,  .  .  138 
Course  of  proceeding  with  insolvent  debtors,  .  .  139,141 
Persons  becoming  fully  solvent  required  to  discharge  their 

former  debts,  138,  140 

Danger  of  inordinate  pursuit  of  wealth,         ....  141 

Creditors  to  be  consulted  in  assignments,      ....  142 

BEQUESTS  and  donations  to  be  strictly  applied,    ....  61 

Not  to  be  received  from  insolvent  members   138 

BIRTHS  AND  BURIALS,   20 

Moderation  in  provision  at  burials,  gravity  and  decorum  advised,  ib. 
Suitable  Friends  to  be  appointed  to  attend,  and  the  corpse  to  be 

removed  in  an  hour,   ib. 

Caution  not  to  attend  the  worship  of  others,  particularly  at  burials,  ib. 
No  meeting  to  be  appointed  at  interment  of  those  not  members, 

nor  in  a  formal  manner  at  the  burial  of  members,  .  .  21 
No  invitations  are  to  be  published  in  our  meetings  for  those  who 

are  not  members,   ib. 

Appointments  to  the  care  of  our  burial  grounds,  and  to  grant 

orders  for  interment,   ib. 

No  persons  not  members  are  to  be  interred  without  a  permit,  ib. 
Grounds  to  be  properly  inclosed,  and  no  monuments  to  be  admit- 
ted  22 

Mourning  habits  disapproved,   ib. 

Regular  records  of  births  and  deaths  to  be  kept  agreeably  to 

form,    23 

BLASPHEMY  to  be  testified  against   36 

BOOKS,   24 

Writings  on  our  religious  principles  to  be  submitted  to  Meeting 

for  Sufferings   ib. 

Persons  printing  or  publishing  writings  contrary  to  advice  or 

derogatory  to  our  faith,  or  tending  to  disunity,  disownablc,  ib. 


164 


INDEX. 


Page 

A  Monthly  meeting  neglecting  to  administer  the  Discipline  in 
such  cases,  to  be  represented  to  Quarterly  meeting,         .  24 

Printing,  selling,  or  distributing  works  tending  to  lay  waste  the 
doctrines  of  Christianity,  disownable,         ....  25 

Care-takers  of  children  to  guard  them  from  reading  such  works, 
and  pbys,  romances,  novels,  and  other  pernicious  books,  ib. 

Booksellers  and  printers  cautioned  against  printing,  selling,  or 
lending  them,     .........  ib. 

Friends  advised  to  be  careful  in  the  choice  of  books,     .       .  26 

Reading  Holy  Scriptures  and  other  religious  works  on  the  after- 
noon of  First-day,  advised,  43 

Books  to  be  provided  by  Quarterly  and  Monthly  meetings  to 
record  minutes,  51 

c. 

CATTLE,  feeding  or  selling  for  the  army,  disapproved,  .  145 
CERTIFICATES,  27 

To  be  forwarded  for  reinstated  persons,       ....  7 

For  travelling  Friends  to  be  recorded,  and  seasonably  returned,  27, 92 

Of  removal  to  be  lodged  with  the  Monthly  meeting  where  ac- 
cepted, and  records  kept  of  all  certificates  issued,     .       .  27 

Mode  of  signing,  ib. 

When  certificate  is  received,  the  parties  to  be  members  of  the 
meeting  removed  to,  28 

Case  of  persons  falling  into  necessitous  circumstances,        .  ib. 

To  be  applied  for,  or  sent  after  persons  removing,        .       .  29,  115 

If  their  conduct  has  been  exceptionable,  to  be  treated  with  by 
Monthly  meeting  removed  to,  30,  53 

To  be  applied  for  apprentices  and  minors  removing,     .       .  30 

Disorderly  persons  appearing  as  Friends,  without  certificates,  to 
be  treated  with,  30, 115 

Committee  to  visit  those  who  bring  certificates,    ...  31 

The  property  of  the  meeting  addressed,  and  to  be  carefully  for- 
warded,  ib. 

When  applied  for,  inquiry  to  be  made  respecting  outward 
affairs,  &c   ib. 

To  be  considered  as  accepted,  if  the  party  reside  in  the  limits  of 
the  Monthly  meeting  when  produced,        ....  ib. 

If  the  conduct  of  the  party  requires  them  to  be  dealt  with,  it  is 
to  be  returned  32 

Persons  about  to  marry  at  a  distance  from  home,  to  obtain  cer- 
tificates,  68,72 


INDEX. 


165 


Page 


Signing  certificates  of  the  separatists  for  marriage,  testified 

against,   70 

Form  of  marriage  certificate,   73 

No  minister  to  appoint  meelings,  or  travel  out  of  the  Quarterly 

meeting,  without  certificate,  91,  92 

For  ministers  travelhng  beyond  the  Yearly  meeting,     .      92,  93,  94 

Of  removal  for  females,    153 

For  religious  concerns  of  females,   ib. 

Issued  for  services  in  war,  not  to  be  dealt  in,   .       .       .       .  145 

Of  ministers  attending  Yearly  meeting  to  be  read  therein,     .  160 

CENSURE,  church,  extent  of,   4 

CHANGE  of  residence  to  be  miide  with  caution — fellow  members  to 

be  consulted,   28 

CHARITY,  necessity  of,  in  building  up  one  another,      ...  5 

CHILDREN  not  to  read  books  subversive  of  Christian  principles,  25 

Care  .advised  in  the  choice  of  books  for  their  use,  ...  26 

To  be  especially  collected  on  First-day  afternoon  for  reading,  &c.  43 
Discouraged  from  visiting  and  rambling  about  on  First-day,  and 

mingling  with  unprofitable  company,         ....  44 

Rights  of,  55,  56 

Apprentices  and  servants,  to  be  brought  to  meeting  for  worship,  84 

CHILDREN  AND  PARENTS,   106 

Obedience  to  parents  inculcated,    ......  ib. 

Vain  fashions,  corrupt  company,  taverns  and  places  of  diversion, 

Sec.  to  be  avoided,   ib. 

Simplicity  of  garb,  language  and  manners,  enforced,  .  .  107' 
Disregard  of  parental  authority  and  testimonies  of  Friends,  to  be 

testified  against,    ib. 

Parents  liable  to  disownment  for  indulging  children  in  excesses,  108 

To  be  educated  in  industry  and  placed  with  members,  .       .  ib. 

Friends  in  affluence  exhorted  to  assist  in  educating  others,  ib. 

Of  poor  Friends  to  claim  care  of  Monthly  meetings,  .  .  IH 
Not  to  keep  company  for  marriage  without  consent  of  parents, 

nor  with  those  not  of  our  Societj',       ....    68,70,  115 

Education  of  children — See  Schools,   120 

To  be  provided  with  teachers  of  our  own  persuasion,    .       .  ib. 
To  be  educated  in  belief  of  the  miraculous  conception,  birth, 
miracles,  death,  resurrection,  ascension  and    mediation  of 

Christ,  and  the  inward  manifestation  of  the  Holy  Spirit,     .  125 

CHURCH — a  preparation  of  heart  necessary  to  manage  its  concerns,  58 

Unclean  hands  disqualify  for  ruling  in  the  church,         .       .  ib, 


% 


166 


INDEX. 


Page 

Learning,  artificial  acquirements,  riches,  eloquence  or  natural 
wisdom,  insufficient  for  government  in  tiie  churcii,  .  59 

CLERKS  to  be  appointed  annually,  57 

Hepresentatives  of  women's  Quarterly  meetings  to  select  a  clerk 

for  their  Yeaily  meeting,  156 

Representatives  of  the  Quarterly  meetings  to  report  clerk  to  the 

Yearly  meeting,   I59 

The  clerk  of  the  preceding  year  to  act  till  a  new  appointment,  ib. 
When  likely  to  be  prevented,  the  Meeting  for  Sufferings  to  take 

charge  of  the  reports,  ib, 

CIVIL  GOVERNMENT,  33 

Liberty  of  conscience  the  common  right  of  all,       ...  ib. 
No  office  to  be  accepted  whicii  violates  our  principles,  .       .  ib. 
Friends  not  to  elect  members  to  such  offices,        ...  ib. 
Called  to  advance  the  Messiah's  reign,  we  cannot  join  in  warlike 
measures,     ..........  34 

Caution  against  defrauding  the  government,  .       .       .  139 

COLOURS  AND  STUFFS,  fashionable,  advised  against,       .       .  109 
CODE  OF  DISCIPLINE,  an  infringement  to  be  treated  for  accord- 
ing to  the  order  laid  down  in  the  New  Testament,     .       .      3,  4 

Extent  of  Society's  censure,    4 

COMMITTEE  on  Appeals,  9,12 

Names  to  be  read  in  presence  of  appellants,  &c.         .      .    10, 12 
To  hear  all  parties,  to  stop  irrelevant  speeches,  and  not  to  di- 
vulge their  opinion  to  either   10, 13 

Their  report  simply  to  annul  or  confirm  decision  below,  .  11 
To  confirm  where  there  was  a  violation  regularly  treated,  .  ib. 
Of  Preparative  meetings,  to  judge  of  references,  .  .  18 
To  be  appointed  by  Quarterly  meetings  to  be  incorporated  with 

incompetent  Monllily  meetings,   49 

To  attend  the  opening  of  new  meetings  for  worship,  .  .  51 
COMPLAINTS  FOR  DEBT— See  Arbitrations,         .       .       .15,  18 

See  Trade,    139,  140, 141,  142 

CONCEPTION,  miraculous  125 

CONCERNS  OF  SOCIETY,  qualifications  for  conducting,  55,  56,  57,  58, 

59,  116 

CONDUCT  AND  CONVERSATION  35 

Cursing,  lying,  swearing — unseemly,  scandalous,  gross,  notorious 

and  indecent  practices,  testified  against,  ...  ib. 

Persons  promoting  noisy  gatherings  or  tumults,  to  be  dealt  with,  36 
Blasphemy,  denial  of  the  Lord  Jesus,  the  Holy  Spirit  or  Holy 

Scriptures,  Stc.  to  be  testified  against,  .       .       .  ib. 


INDEX.  167 

Page 

Injustice  and  covetousness  disapproved,  ...  37 

Frequent  waiting  on  the  Lord,  and  abstaining'  from  unprofitable 
intercourse  and  converse,  enjoined,        ....  ib. 
CONNECTION  and  subordination  of  meeting-s,  .       .       .  4,47 

Of  meetings  not  dissolvable  but  in  the  mode  prescribed  by  the 

Discipline,   49 

CONSCIENCE,  liberty  of,  the  right  of  all  men,         ...  33 

CONVINCED  PERSONS   39 

Application  for  membership  to  be  made  to  overseers  or  elders, 
and  when  prepared  to  be  laid  before  Preparative  and  Monthly 

meetings,   ib. 

Inquiry  respecting  hfe,  conversation,  principles,  &c.  .  ib. 
Caution  against  haste  in  such  cases,  ....  ib. 

Monthly  meetings  exhorted  to  be  weighty,  and  well  satisfied  of 
the  applicant's  convincement  of  our  principles — when  so,  to 
receive  without  respect  to  nation  or  colour,   ...  40 
CORRESPONDENCE  between  distant  Monthly  meeting?,         .   7,  30,  53 
Between  women's  Monthly  meetings,       .       .       .       .53,  150 
Between  elders  of  different  meetings,       ....  95 
Women's  Yearly  meeting  to  correspond  with  those  of  their  own 

sex,   155 

Irregular,  to  be  examined  by  committee  before  read,       .  158 
CORRESPONDENTS  to  sign  certificates  of  removal,       .       .  27 
To  sign  certificates  of  ministers,       .....  93 
COURTS  OF  LAW,  the  proper  demeanour  therein,       .       .  18 
COUSINS,  first,  not  permitted  to  marry,  ....  74 

The  term  applies  to  grand  children  of  one  parent,  .  75 

CREDITORS,  cases  in  which  they  are  allowed  to  sue  at  law,        .  17 

To  be  consulted  in  assignment.s,  139,  142 

To  take  no  advantage  of  the  rule  requiring  insolvent  debtors  to 
pay  whenever  they  are  able,   140 

D. 

DANCING,  members  in  the  practice,  liable  to  disownment,    .  63 

DAYS  AND  TIMES,   41 

Advice  against  the  superstitious  observance  of  days,  and  calling 

days  and  months  by  heathen  names,     ....  ib. 

Reasons  for  not  observing  fasts  and  feast  days  and  times,  &c.  ib. 
First-day  not  the  Sabbath — set  apart  by  primitive  Cliristians  for 

worship  and  religious  retirement,         .       .       .       .        42, 43 

Friends  to  forbear  worldly  business,  except  works  of  necessity,  ib. 

To  collect  their  children  and  families  for  religious  reading,  ib. 


168 


INDEX. 


Paga 

DEATHS  AND  BIRTHS,  regular  records  to  be  kept  by  each  Monthly 

meeting',  22, 23 

DEATH  OF  CHRIST,  meritorious   125 

DEALINGS  among  men  to  be  just  and  free  from  all  imposition,  37 
DEBTORS  to  take  no  advantage  of  the  rule  to  guard  them  from  un- 
kind treatment,   65 

To  be  advised  to  convene  their  creditors  early,  .  137,  138,  139 
To  refrain  from  partial  payments — and  subscriptions,  donations 

or  bequests,  not  to  be  received  while  insolvent,  .  138 

To  be  urged  to  payment,  and  if  unable,  to  assign  at  request  of 

creditors,   139 

Wlien  again  solvent,  justice  requires  payment  of  all  their  debts,  138,140 
Circumstances  of  bankruptcy  to  be  ascertained,  .        138,  141 

DECISIONS  of  superior  meetings  to  be  submitted  to  by  inferior,  47,  48 
DEFAMATION  AND  DETRACTION,  ....  45 

Friends  exhorted  to  shun  tale-bearing  and  detraction,  .  ib. 

To  keep  to  the  gospel  order  in  treating  with  those  who  err,  ib. 
Party  to  be  admonished,  and  unless  they  acknowledge,  to  be 

disowned,   45 

Reporters  and  tale-bearers,  to  be  dealt  with  as  principals,  ib. 
DENIAL  of  the  divinity,  mediation  or  atonement  of  Christ,  the  imme- 
diate influence  of  the  Holy  Spirit,  or  inspiration  of  the  Holy 
Scriptures,  testified  against,        ......   25,  36 

DILIGENCE  in  attending  meetings,   5,  47,  83,  84 

See  Queries,  113,  118 

DISCIPLINE,  AND  MEETINGS  FOR  DISCIPLINE,       .       .  47 
To  be  maintained  in  their  original  authority,         ...  ib. 

Negligence  produces  spiritual  death,  ib. 

Connection  and  subordination,  .  ■  .  .  .  .  .  ib. 
Inferior  meetings  to  render  account  and  submit  to  superior,  .  ib. 
No  meeting  to  be  instituted  but  with  consent  of  superior,  .  ib. 
Dissolution  of  Quarterly,  Monthly,  and  Preparative  meetings,  and 

meetings  for  Worship,  48 

Quarterly  meetings  to  appoint  committees  to  aid  incompetent 
Monthly  meetings,      ........  49 

Meetings  possess  no  right  to  dissolve  tlielr  cotmection  with 

superiors,  ib. 

Junction  of  a  Preparative  with  another  Monthly  meeting,  or  a 

Monthly  meeting  with  another  Quarterlj',          ...  50 
Meetings  for  worship  composed  of  parts  of  two  Monthly  meetings,  ib. 
Books  for  record  of  proceedings  of  Quarterly  and  Monthly 
meetings,   51 


INDEX. 


169 


Page 

Business  to  be  finished  with  despatch,  and  when  too  weighty,  to 
be  brought  before  the  Quarter  for  aid,       ....  51 

Minutes  may  be  granted  to  Quarterly  and  Monthly  meetings, 
or  individuals,  when  requested,  .....    51,  52 

Representatives  of  Monthly  and  Quarterly  meetings  to  be  punc- 
tual to  appointment,  or  furnish  reasons  for  absence,   .       .  52 

Meetings  not  to  proceed  to  business  while  those  not  members 
are  present,         .........  53 

Mode  of  treating  with  offenders  at  remote  distance,       .       .    30,  53 

Women's  Monthly  meetings  to  correspond  on  such  occasions,  ib. 

Offisnders  not  to  sit  in  meetings  for  Discipline,     ...  54 

Mode  of  treating  offenders,   ib. 

Qualification  requisite  for  all  performances  in  Discipline  as  well 
as  worship,   55,  56,  57,  58,  59,  116 

Testimonies  of  disunion  to  be  furnished  with  information  of  ap- 
peal,  55 

Rights  of  Children,  55,  56 

Application  to  jugglers  or  fortune-tellers  so  called,  or  a  pretence 
to  such  art,  disownable,  56 

Accounts  of  Sufferings  to  be  regularly  forwarded,         .       .  57 

Committees  annually  appointed  for  nominating  clerks,  .  ib. 

Care  to  be  taken  to  judge  of  the  qualification  of  members  for 
service  ib. 

The  virtue  and  power  of  the  Holy  Head  demonstrate  that 
neither  tradition  nor  education  prepares  for  succession  in  the 
church,  58 

Caution  against  bringing  into  service  prematurely,       .       .  ib. 

Unclean  hands,  and  connivance  at  undue  hberties,  disqualify  for 
church  government,   ib. 

Pertinent  counsel  liow  to  conduct  in  the  church,  .       .  59 

Design  of  Preparative  meetings — cases  to  be  forwarded  in  wri- 
ting— not  to  take  cognizance  of  marriage,  ...  60 
DISCORD  and  Disunity,  persons  publishing  works  tending  to  excite  it,  24 

Attempts  at  fomenting  division,  disownable,  ...  66 

Implacable-enmity  testified  against,  67 

DISORDERLY  PERSONS  appearing  as  Friends,  ....  30 
DISOWNED  PERSONS  applying  for  reinstatement,      .      .      .7, 151 

DISPUTES— See  Arbitration  15, 18, 19 

DIVINITY  of  Jesus  Christ,   25, 36 

DIVISION  and  Dissension,  parties  to  be  laboured  with  and  apprised 

of  their  danger,   66 


170 


INDEX. 


Page 

DISUNITY,  manifested  by  neglect  of  divine  worship,  dlsownable,  84 
Such  to  make  acknowledgment  before  considered  in  unity,  ib. 
DOCTRINES  and  Principles  to  be  adorned  by  consistent  example,  83 
Unsound,  cause  of  admonition  and  care,       .       .       .       87,  94, 95 
DONATIONS,  Bequests,  &c.  to  be  strictly  applied  to  the  purposes 

intended,   61 

Not  to  be  received  from  insolvent  members,          .       .       .  138 
DRESS  and  Address,  simplicity  of  garb,  language  and  manners,  en- 
forced,  107,  109 

Copying  after  the  vain  and  extravagant  fashions,  testified  against,  107 
Parents  indulging  their  children  in  excesses  in  these  respects, 
disownable,         .........  108 

DROWSINESS  in  Meetings — those  wlio  give  way  to  it  to  be  laboured 

with,  and  not  employed  in  Society,  85 

DUTIES — not  to  be  withheld  from  government,     ....  139 

E. 

EDUCATION  insufficient  to  make  successors  In  the  church,  58,  59 

Fi'iends  advised  to  bring  up  children  in  habits  of  Industry,  and 

place  them  to  occupations  consistent  with  our  testimonies,  108 
In  piety  and  virtue,  and  in  proper  share  of  useful  learning,  un- 
der religious,  prudent  persons,  recommended  to  subordinate 

meetings,   120,  121 

Children  instructed  in  the  Christian  religion,  and  reading  the 
Holy  Scriptures  in  schools — guarded  education  not  a  temporal 

convenience  merely,  but  a  religious  duty  122 

Liberality  in  aiding  others,  123 

Right  education  begun  and  conducted  at  home,     .       .       .  124 
ELDERS  to  be  consulted  respecting  meetings  at  burials,      .       .  21 
Decease  of,  to  be  forwarded  to  Yearly  meeting,    ...  86 
And  ministers  to  be  as  nursing  fathers,  ....  87 

Their  duty  to  admonish  ministers,  if  unsound  in  doctrine,  ib. 
To  state  cases  of  refractory  ministers  to  Preparative  or  Quar- 
terly meeting  of  ministers  and  elders,        ....  88 
To  be  treated  as  other  members  for  violation  of  Discipline,  and 

not  to  attend  Select  meetings  till  ag.iin  recommended,       .  ib. 
Two  or  more  of  each  sex  to  be  appointed  by  Monthly  meeting,  89 

Mode  of  appointing,  ib. 

To  introduce  to  Monthly  meeting  the  cases  of  persons  appear- 
ing in  the  ministry,  where  there  is  no  Preparative  meeting  of 
ministers  and  elders,   90 


INDEX.  ]  71 


Paga 

Believing'  themselves  called  to  the  ministry,  to  withdraw  from 
Select  meeting',  ........  91 

To  take  steps  to  bring  before  Monthly  meetings  cases  of  those 

who  disturb  by  preaching,   ib. 

To  treat  with  ministers  coming  among  us  who  are  unsound,  and 

to  forward  their  cases  to  the  elders  where  they  belong,      .  94 
To  extend  care  to  ministers  supposed  to  have  lost  their  gifts — 
also,  subject  to  the  same  treatment  themselves,  in  similar 

circumstances,  98 

Duties — case  of  a  Preparative  meeting  of  elders  without  any 

minister — how  suspended,  99 

To  retain  the  office,  subject  to  the  rules,  ....  100 
ELECTING  Friends  to  offices  in  government  whose  duties  oppose 

our  principles,  disapproved,       .....         33,  103 
ENDORSING  accommodation  notes,  disapproved,         .       .       .  140 

ENMITY,  implac.ible,  testified  against,  67 

EXECUTORS  and  Trustees  permitted  to  proceed  at  law,      .       .   17, 18 

To  be  faithful  and  punctual  to  trusts,  61 

And  administrators  to  estates  not  to  act  where  there  are  slaves,  128 
To  make  complete  inventory  early  after  interment,       .       .  148 
EXPENSES  of  ministers  to  be  provided  for  when  needful,     .  95,  96 

EXTRACTS  from  the  minutes  of  the  Yearly  meeting  to  be  sent  to  all 

meetings  for  Discipline,  159 

F. 

Failure  in  Business,  to  be  treated  for,  137 

Inquiry  into  circumstances,  138, 141 

Subscriptions,  kc.  not  to  be  received  from  such,  .       .       .  138 

Advised  to  convene  creditors,  and  assign  139 

To  discharge  debts  when  they  become  able,  .  .  138, 140 
Creditors  lo  be  consulted — to  appoint  assignees — assignments 

to  be  unreserved,  142 

FAITH — a  tender  care  to  be  exercised  that  all  may  be  preserved  in 

the  unity  of  faith,   3 

FAMILY  Visits  encouraged  and  recommended  to  the  solid  attention 

of  Quarterly  and  Monthly  meetings,  ....  62 

Concern  to  be  approved  where  the  Friend  belongs  and  where 

the  visit  is  to  be  made,  ib. 

This  regulation  applies  to  those  coming  from  other  Yearly  meet- 
ings.  ib. 

FASHIONS,  in  apparel,  buildings,  furniture,  stuffs,  colours,  &c.  to  be 

kept  out  of,  109 


172 


INDEX. 


Page 

The  spirit  of  Truth,  which  led  Friends  originally  to  lay  aside 
tliese  things,  still  leads  in  the  same  path,           ,       .       .  110 
FASTS,  and  feast  days  and  times,  not  to  be  observed,           ,       .  41 
The  fast  we  are  culled  to,  is  a  continual  abstinence  from  all  evil,  ib. 
FIGHTINGS  and  Wars,  Friends  to  maintain  our  testimony  against,  143 
Not  to  show  the  least  connivance  at  war,  by  viewing  military 
operations,  encouraging  party  spirit,  or  joining  political  asso- 
ciations, 144 

To  avoid  any  tr.ide  promotive  of  it,  partaking  of  the  spoils, 
shipping  in  armed  vessels,  paying  taxes,  selling  property  for 

the  use  of  the  army,  &c  143, 145 

The  subject  to  claim  care  of  Quarterly,  Monthly,  and  Prepara- 
tive meetings,     .  ib. 

FINES,  or  taxes  for  military  demands,  not  to  be  paid,  though  applied 

to  civil  government,   143  to  146 

FIRST-DAY  of  the  week  not  the  Sabbath,  42 

Set  apart  by  Christians  for  religious  retirement  and  public  wor- 
ship, after  the  example  of  the  primitive  Christians,    .       .  43 
Friends  to  abstain  from  labour,  except  works  of  necessity,  cha- 
rity or  benevolence,  ib. 

Religious  retirement,  and  reading  the  Scriptures  and  other  reli- 
gious books — refraining  from  visiting  about,  recommended,  ib. 
Marriages  not  to  be  accomplished  on  First-day,     ...  70 

FORMAL  WORSHIP  testified  against,   41 

FORTUNE-TELLERS,  or  Jugglers,  so  called,       ....  56 
Any  member  applying  to  such  persons,  or  pretending  to  their 
arts,  to  be  dealt  with  and  disowned,  if  not  convinced,        .  ib. 
FRIENDS,  a  people  whom  the  Lord  in  these  latter  days  h.ath  gathered 

by  his  spirit  and  power  to  worship  him  in  spirit  and  in  truth,  3 
To  exercise  care  over  each  other,  that  all  may  be  preserved  in 

faith  and  practice,  ib. 

To  be  diligent  at  meetings,  and  to  seek  for  ability  to  build 
one  another  in  that  faith  which  works  by  love  and  purifies  the 

heart,   5 

FUNERALS— See  Births  and  Burials,  20 

G. 

GAMING  and  diversions  testified  against,  63 

Stage-plays,  horse-races,  music,  dancing  or  any  other  vain  sports; 

lotteries,  wagering,  or  other  species  of  gaming,  disownable,  ib, 
GIFTS — Caution  against  introducing  persons  prematurely  into  service 

that  by  right  discernment,  every  gift  may  be  properly  exercised,  58 


INDEX. 


173 


Page 

Patience  in  the  use  of  gifts,  reverence  in  speaking  in  the  church, 
having  our  own  spirits  in  subjection,  inculcated,  .       .  59 

Of  Gospel  Ministry,  90 

Gifts  and  legacies  to  be  strictly  applied,          .       .       .  61,115 
Application  to  be  made  to  Meeting  for  Sufferings  in  case  of  dif- 
ficulty,  81,  115 

GOSPEL  MINISTRY  supplied  by  the  immediate  teachings  of  the 

Holy  Spirit,  64,  87 

Prayers  which  are  accepted  produced  by  the  influence  of  the 

Holy  Spirit,  41 

GOVERNMENT,  Civil,  33 

No  office  to  be  accepted  which  requires  the  violation  of  our  prin- 
ciples,  ib. 

Friends  not  to  elect  one  another  to  offices  whose  duties  lay  waste 

our  testimonies,  ib. 

Friends  cannot  join  in  hostile  measures  against  the  government, 

or  any  person,  34 

Not  to  be  defrauded  of  its  duties  139 

GRAVITY  at  burials,  20 

GRAVE-STONES  not  to  be  admitted  in  our  burial  grounds,  .  .  22 
GRINDING  GRAIN,  or  selling  it  for  the  Army,  disapproved,        .  145 

H. 

HALF-SISTER  of  a  deceased  wife  not  to  marry  her  surviving  husband,  74 

HAT,  keeping  on,  in  time  of  prayer,  disorderly  89 

HEDGE — The  Discipline  an  exterior  hedge  of  preservation,    .       .  3 
HIRELING  MINISTRY,  incompatible  with  the  free  gospel  of  Christ,  64 
Contributing  to  support  or  encouraging  it,  opposed  to  our  testi- 
mony, and  disownable,  ib. 

HOLY  SPIRIT,  a  denial  of  its  immediate  influence,  disownable,     25,  36 

All  true  worship  performed  under  it,  41 

The  soul  of  man  the  temple  of  the  floly  Spirit,     ...  42 

The  true  authority  of  all  our  meetings  57 

By  its  immediate  teaching  acceptable  worship  is  performed,  and 

all  true  gospel  ministry  supplied,  ....  64,  83 
Ministers  to  seek  tlie  mind  of  the  Spirit,  to  open  mysteries,  .  87 
Our  forefathers  led  by  the  Spirit  into  the  plainness  and  simplicity 

which  the  gospel  enjoins,  109 

Still  leads  in  the  same  path,  HO 

Qualifies  to  conduct  the  affairs  of  the  Church,        .       .  56, 57, 116 
Children  to  be  educated  in  the  belief  of  its  inward  manifestation 
in  the  heart,  125 


174 


INDEX. 


Page 

Holy  Scriptures,  written  by  its  inspiration,  ....  125 
Gives  a  right  understanding  of  the  divine  will  and  the  meaning 

of  Holy  Scriptures,   126 

Leads  out  of  bondage  to  the  Spirit  of  the  world,    .       .       .  136 
HOLY  SCRIPTURES— denial  of  authenticity,  disownable,    .          25,  36 
Children  to  be  restrained  from  reading  works  creating  doubt  in 

them   25 

Reading  on  First-day  afternoon  espcci.illy  recommended,       .  43 
Ministers  advised  to  be  frequent  in  reading  them,    ...  87 
Drawing  unsound  inferences  or  misapplying  them,  calls  for  no- 
tice,  87,  94 

Daily  reading  in  schools  enjoined,   122 

Parents  and  heads  of  families  exhorted  to  instruct  their  children 

in  the  doctrines  of  the  Christian  religion  as  contained  in  them,  125 

Friends  have  always  believed  they  were  written  by  inspiration,  ib. 
Their  authority  depends  not  upon  churches — we  submit  all  doc- 
trines to  their  standard— and  reckon  any  thing  contrary  to 

them  a  delusion,   126 

HOLY-DAYS,  so  called,  not  to  be  observed,   41 

HORSE-RACING  testified  against  and  disownable,         ...  63 

I. 

INSPIRATION  of  the  Holy  Scriptures,         ....  25,36 

INTERCESSION  of  Christ,   35 

INTERMENT  of  the  dead— See  Burials   20 

Committee  to  grant  orders,   21 

A  solemn  pause  before  and  after,  to  be  observed,  ...  22 

Extravagant  expenses  and  mourning  habits  disapproved,  .  ib. 
INSTITUTION  of  Quarterly,  Monthly  and  Preparative  meetings  and 

meetings  for  Worsliip,   47,  48,  50 

INVENTORY  of  Estates  to  be  full  and  clear,  and  made  out  early  after 

interment,   148 

JUDGMENT  to  be  placed  on  offenders  in  the  authority  of  Truth,  49,  114 
JUSTIFICATION  from  the  imputation  of  sins  past  by  propitiatory 

sacrifice,   37 

JUSTICE,  strict,  to  be  adhered  to  in  all  our  dealings,     .       .      .  ib. 

L. 

LANGUAGE — the  world's  corrupt  language,  manners,  &c.  to  be  kept 

from,   109 

Plainness  of  speech,  without  respect  of  persons,  to  be  used  in 

all  our  converse,   110 


INDEX.  175 

Page 

LAW — Counsel  learned  in,  to  be  consulted  by  arbitrators,      .       .  16 
Administrators,  Executors,  and  Trustees,  to  proceed  at  law  if 

necessary,  ^7, 18 

Parties  going  to  law  to  conduct  circumspectly  at  courts,  .  .  18 
Suing  a  member,  in  violation  of  Discipline,  disownable,  .  65 
Persons  skilled  in,  to  be  employed  to  write  wills,    .       .       .  147 


LEARNING  insufficient  to  qualify  for  government  in  tlie  church,    .  59 
Teachers  of  our  own  persuasion  to  be  employed  to  instruct  the 
youth  in  useful  learning  to  fit  them  for  the  business  of  life,  and 
to  train  them  in  the  knowledge  of  their  duty  to  their  Creator,  120 
LEGACIES,  gifts,  bequests  &c.  not  to  be  perverted  or  appropriated 

to  any  other  uses  than  designed  by  donors,  ...  61 

Applic.ition  to  the  Meetings  for  Sufferings  to  be  made  in  difficult 

cases,  81,  115 

LIBERTY  of  conscience  the  common  right  of  all   33 

LOTTERIES,  being  concerned  in,  disownable,       ....  63 

LOVE  AND  UNITY,  the  bond  of  Christian  brotherhood,      .       .  66 

All  attempts  to  promote  separation  testified  against,       .      .  ib. 

Persons  infected  with  dissension,  to  be  timely  w.nrned,  .  .  ib. 
Implacable  enmity — persons  indulging  it  to  be  laboured  with, 

and  if  inflexible,  to  be  disowned,   67 

LYING,  swearing,  cursing,  and  other  wicked  conduct,  testified  against,  35 

M. 

MARRIAGE  of  female  to  deceased  sister's  husband,  how  restored 

to  membership,  8 

Relations  (not  members)  to  withdraw  before  meetings  proceed 
to  further  business,     ........  53 

No  Preparative  Meeting  to  take  cognizance  of  proposals  of  mar- 
riage,  60 

Persons  proposing  marriage  to  wait  for  Divine  counsel  and  con- 
sent of  parents,  &c.    ......       .       •  68 

None  to  proceed  till  certificates  and  consent  of  guardians  are 
produced,  when  necessary  and  practicable,        .       .       ,68,  72 

Not  allowed  earUer  than  one  year  after  the  death  of  husband  or 
wife,  69 

Marrying  a  person  not  a  member,  or  without  consent  of  the 
Monthly  meeting,  disownable,    ......  ib. 

No  misdemeanour  to  be  publislied  to  prevent  marriages,        .  ib. 

Parties  intending  marriage  not  to  reside  in  the  same  house,    .  ib. 

Not  accomplished  in  meetings  for  Discipline  or  on  First-day,  70 

Expensive  entertainments  and  large  companies  Advised  against,  ib. 


176 


INDEX. 


Page 

Keeping  company  for  this  purpose  with  those  not  of  us,  with 
servants  or  apprentices  without  leave  of  masters,  Sic. — being 
present  or  consenting  to  their  children  being  present  at  mar- 
riages pcrfDrnicd  by  aid  of  a  priest — or  attending  marriage  of 
member  accomplished  in  a  way  out  of  our  order,  testified 

against  70,  115 

Attending  the  meetings  of  Se|)aratists — their  marriages— signing 
their  certificates,  repugnant  to  order.  Sec.         ...  70 

Parents  or  guardians  approving  addresses,  not  to  retract  without 
sufficient  reason,        ........  71 

Mode  of  accomplishing  prescribed,       .....    71,  72 

The  rights  of  a  widow's  cliildren  to  be  secured  before  marriage,  ih. 
To  be  accomplished  gi'avely  and  without  immoderate  feasting; 
the  contrai'y  requiring  care  of  the  Friends  charged  with  over- 
sight,  ib. 

Form  of  marriage  certificate,  73 

Marriage  of  first  cousins,  or  with  wife's  half  sister,  not  permitted,  74 
Reinstatement  of  such  requires  consent  of  Quarterly  meeting,  75 
Term  first  cousins  includes  the  descendants  of  one  parent,  lb. 
Counsel  to  guard  the  3'outh  from  improper  connections — viola- 
tions of  the  Discipline  often  arising  from  want  of  this  care,  ib. 
Caution  respecting  the  too  ready  acceptance  of  acknowledgments,  76 
Testimonies  to  be  issued  against  those  who  consent  to  or  connive 
at  marriage  of  children  under  their  care  (members)  contrary 

to  Discipline,  76,  115 

Exposure  to  improper  connections  cautioned  against,  .  107 

Women's  Monthly  meetings  to  take  cognizance  of  proposals 

for  marriage,  149 

MEDIATION  of  Jesus  Christ,  ....  25,36,37,42,  125 
MEETINGS— order  and  subordination,  ....  4,  47 

For  worship,  not  appointed  at  interment  of  those  not  members, 

and  not  in  a  formal  manner  at  others,         ....  21 
All  our  meetings  to  be  held  in  their  original  authority,  the  love, 

power,  and  peaceable  spirit  of  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ,       .  47,57 
For  worship,  set  up  or  discontinued  by  Monthly  meetings,  with 

consent  of  the  Quarter,   47,  48 

Composed  of  parts  of  two  or  more  Monthly  meetings,  .  50 

To  be  held  in  the  authority  of  Truth  and  unity  of  the  Spirit,  83 
Coming  late,  falling  asleep,  restlessness,  going  out,  8cc.        .  ib. 
Christian  zeal  and  diligent  waiting  for  power  to  qualify  for 
worship,   'b. 


INDEX. 


177 


Page 


Children  and  apprentices  to  be  promoted  to  attend,      .       .  84 
A  wilful  neglect  of  this  duly  an  evidence  of  ingratitude  and  dis- 
unity,         .       .       .       .     •   ib. 

Such  to  acknowledge  before  restoration,      ....  ib. 

Should  not  be  disturbed  by  opposition  to  ministers  unless,  8ic.  89 

PREPARATIVE, 

To  judge  of  references,    18 

Subordination  to  Montlily  meetings — mode  of  instituting,  dissolv- 
ing, &c  47  to  51 

Duties — not  to  decide  matters  cognizable  by  Monthly  meetings,  60 

To  be  early  informed  of  offenders  removed  to  remote  pkces,  104 

MONTHLY, 

To  appoint  respondents  in  case  of  appeals,           ...  9 

May  appeal  from  decision  of  Quarterly  meeting,  ...  13 
Refusing  to  attend  to  complaint  of  Meeting  for  Sufferings — 

course  pursued,    24 

To  keep  records  of  certificates,     .       .  •     .       .      .      .  27 

To  fiu-nish  pecuniary  relief— to  be  refunded,        ...  28 
To  write  to  distant  Monthly  meetings  respecting  offenders  ap- 
pearing without  certificates — also,  those  removed,       .        30,  53 
To  appoint  committees  to  visit  those  who  bring  certificates,  and 

to  forward  certificates  by  proper  conveyances,         .       .  31 
To  be  weighty  in  deliberating  on  applications  for  membership,  40 
Accountability  to  Quarterly  meetings — institution  and  suspen- 
sion,  47,  48 

To  accept  and  recognise  members  of  dissolved  meetings,  .  48 
To  state  its  sense  to  Quarterly  meeting  of  dissolving  inferior 

meeting,    ib. 

Incompetent,  assisted  by  committee  of  Quarterly  meeting,       .  49 

Cannot  dissolve  connection  with  Qu.irterly  meeting,      .       .  ib. 

Mode  of  transfer  to  another  Quarterly  meeting,  ...  50 
To  keep  fair  records,  and  despatch  business  without  improper 

delay,   51 

To  apply  to  Quarterly  meeting  for  aid  in  diflicult  cases — to  fur- 
nish minutes  to  meetings — to  individuals  disci-elionally,         51,  52 

To  appoint  representatives  to  Quarterly  meeting,        .      .  52 

Not  to  permit  offenders  to  sit  in  Meetings  for  Discipline,       .  64 

Mode  of  treating  and  disowning  memliers,     ....  ib. 

To  forward  annually  accounts  of  Sufferings,          ...  57 

To  appoint  committee  annually  to  nominate  clerks,       .       .  ib. 

Not  to  employ  drowsy  members,    85 

To  select  elders,  and  forward  their  names,  and  those  of  Friends 

z 


178 


INDEX. 


I'age 

appearing  as  ministers,  to  Quarterly  meeting  of  ministers  and 

elders,  89, 90 

To  aid  ministei'S  in  tlie  prosecution  of  their  concerns,  .  95 

Course  to  be  pursued  on  refusing  to  take  up  cases  introduced 

by  Quarterly  meeting  of  ministers  and  elders,  .       .  98 

To  appoint  treasurer — committee  to  have  care  of  the  poor,  111 

To  appoint  committee  on  education,  122 

Women's  Monthly  meetings— duties,  8ic.       .       .       .    149  to  154 

Testimonies  of  disunion  for  females,  150 

Communications  not  regular  to  be  examined  by  committee,  159 
To  furnish  Preparative  meetings  with  extracts  from  Yearly 

meeting,  ib. 

QUARTERLY, 

To  hear  appeals,  and  to  appoint  respondents  to  Yearly  meet- 
ing,  9  to  12 

To  carry  uj)  appeals  of  Monthly  meetings,  ....  13 
When  composed  of  two  Monthly  meetings,  to  refer  appeals  to 

Yearly  meeting,   14 

Subordination  and  accountability  to  Yearly  meeting,  •  .  47',  48 
To  institute  or  dissolve  inferior  meetings,  .  •  .  48, 50 
To  appoint  committee  to  aid  Monthly  meetings,  .      .  49 

To  forward  accounts  of  Sufferings  annually,  ...  57 

To  appoint  committee  on  education,  122 

Women's  Quarterly  meetings — duties,  ....  154,  155 
Irregular  communications  to  be  examined,     ....  159 

YEARLY— number  of,   '      .       .  5 

Its  decisions  binding  on  all,  5,  47,  48 

Committee  to  provide  for  visits  beyond  sea,          ...  96 
History  of  origin — committee  to  prepai'e  epistles,          .      157, 158 
Letters  and  papers,  not  from  regular  correspondents,  to  be  ex- 
amined,  158 

Representatives  to  propose  clerks — Extracts  to  be  sent  to  all 

Meetings  for  Discipline  160 

FOR  SUFFERINGS, 
Appointed  by  Yearly  and  Quarterly  meetings — its  constitution,  79 
To  take  charge  of  all  writings  relating  to  our  principles,         24,  81 
To  inform  the  Quarterly  meeting  of  a  Monthly  meeting  refusing 

to  treat  for  an  offence  against  the  Discipline  on  books,  .  24 
To  inspect  memorials  preparatory  to  Yearly  meeting,  .  .  81, 86 
To  represent  the  Yearly  meeting  on  all  emergent  occasions,  79,  81 
To  explain  titles  to  property — to  record  accounts  of  Sufferings 

— to  apply  to  government,  &c.  ....         81,  82 

To  correspond  with  other  Meetings  for  SufFerings,       .      .  82 


INDEX.  179 

Page 

None  members,  but  those  rej^ularly  appointed — ministers  and 
members  of  other  Meetings  for  Sufferings  may  attend,       .  82 

To  advance  the  testimony  against  slavery,     ....  129 

To  take  charge  of  papers  of  the  Yearly  meeting  when  the  clerk 

is  likely  to  be  absent,  159 

OF  MINISTERS  AND  ELDERS, 

Preparative,  composed  of  ministers  and  elders  of  a  Monthly 
meeting,   .  89 

To  bring  before  Monthly  meetings  the  cases  of  those  who  appear 
as  ministers,  90 

To  meet  every  tliree  months  to  answer  queries,  &c.       .       .  96 

Quarterly — to  aid  Preparative  Select  Meeting  in  dealing  with 
unsound  ministers,  or  those  who  may  have  otherwise  lost  their 
gifts,   88, 98 

To  decide  on  ministers  and  elders  recommended,  .       .       .  90,  91 

To  read  queries  and  answers  brought  from  Preparative  meetings, 
and  annually  forward  comprised  report  to  Yearly  meeting  of 
ministers  and  elders,   96 

To  represent  to  Quarterly  meeting  for  Disciphne  refusal  of 
Monthly  meetings  to  take  up  cases  of  ministers,        .       .  99 

To  extend  care  over  Preparative  meetings  of  elders,  and  pro- 
pose their  suspension,  when  proper,  to  Monthly  meetings,  99 

Yearly  meeting  of  ministers  and  elders. 

To  read  queries  and  answers  from  the  Quarters,  and  to  commu- 
nicate advice  and  aid  to  subordinate  meetings,  .       .  97 
Not  to  interfere  with  the  sittings  of  Yearly  meeting  for  Disci- 
pline,                                           :       .       .      .       .  ib. 

Meetings  of  ministers  and  elders  not  to  interfere  with  the  busi- 
ness, but  may  communicate  with  their  respective  meetings  for 

Discipline,   ib. 

MEETING  HOUSES, 

Titles  to  be  frequently  inspected,  and  trusts  renewed  when 

necessary,   78 

Records  of  trusts  and  conveyances  to  be  kept,  and  with  whom 
the  papers,  minutes.  Sic.  are  deposited,     ....  ib. 

MEMORIALS,  86 

Prepared  by  Monthly  meetings,  to  be  forwarded  to  Quarterly 
meeting,  and  Meeting  for  Sufferings,         ....  ib. 
MEMBERSHIP  in  the  Society,  how  obtained,      .       .    7,  39,  55,  56,  151 
MESSIAH'S  peaceful  reign  begun,       ....         34,  143,  144 
MILITARY  FINES — no  part  to  be  accepted  unless  returned  in  same 

species,  143 

Tax  for  purchasing  drums,  colours,  and  other  warlike  purposes,  144 


180 


INDEX. 


Pngo 

Paying  fine,  penalty  or  tax,  for  carrying  on  \vi\r,    .  .  145 

Tax  levied  for  militia  not  to  be  paiil,  though  applied  to  civil 

purposes,   146 

MINISTERS  AND  ELDERS  8r 

IMlnistcrs  not  employed  as  arbitrators,  ....  19 

Accounts  of  decease,  forwarded  to  Yearly  meeting,  .  .  86 
To  be  nursing  fathers — to  read  the  Holy  Scriptures  frequently 
—seeking  the  mind  of  the  Spirit  to  enable  them  to  open  the 
mysteries  thereof — and  not  to  extend  declarations  without  life,  87 
Unsound  doctrines  and  conclusions  require  admonition,  .  ib. 
Course  of  proceeding  in  case  of  refusal  to  acknowledge  faults,  88 
Not  to  sit  in  Select  meetings,  after  case  is  in  Monthly  meetings, 

till  recommended  again,   ib. 

To  be  treated  as  other  members  for  violation  of  Discipline,  88 
Public  opposition  to  keeping  on  the  hat  in  prayer  disallowed,  89 
Mode  of  recommending  and  appointing,       ....    89, 90 
AVithout  being  approved  by  Quarterly  meeting  of  ministers  and 
elders,  none  arc  to  be  received  as  ministers,  sit  in  Select  meet- 
ings, or  travel  as  ministers,  91 

No  minister  to  appoint  meetings,  or  travel  out  of  the  Quarterly 

meeting,  without  certificate,  91, 92 

Elders  appearing  as  ministers,  91 

Concerns  of  ministers  claiming  care  of  superior  meetings  to  be 

considered  before  reading  certificate  of  Monthly  meeting,  92 
Meetings  to  be  informed  when  visits  are  completed,     .       .  ib. 
Attending  a  Yearly  meeting  and  a  few  in  its  vicinity,  or  to  visit 
the  meetings  of  one  or  two  Quarterly  meetings,  requires  a 

minute  of  the  Monthly  meeting,  92,  93 

Visits  beyond  these  limits,  a  certificate  endorsed  by  Quarterly 

meeting,  ib. 

Visit  to  Ohio,  Indiana,  and  Carolina,  or  any  two  of  them,  or  be- 
yond sea,  to  be  laid  before  Yearly  meeting  of  ministers  and 

elders,  94 

Counsel  to  keep  under  religious  weight  and  use  diligence,  .  ib. 
At  home,  or  from  abroad,  giving  uneasiness  in  doctrine — ^how 

treated,  95 

Services  not  to  be  impeded  for  want  of  means,  .      .  ib. 

To  watch  over  the  flock  in  their  respective  places,  .  .  97 
Those  who  may  be  tliought  to  liave  lost  their  gifts,  how  treated,  98 
To  avoid  improper  tones  and  gestures — to  watch  over  each  other 

for  good,  119 

MINUTES  for  travelling  Friends,  to  be  recorded  and  promptly  re- 
turned,  .  27 


INDEX. 


181 


Page 

Copies  may  be  granted  by  Quarterly  and  Monthly  meetings,  51 
Discretional  power  to  furnish  individuals,  ....  52 
Of  meetings  to  be  placed  under  care  of  suitable  Friends,       .  78 

MINISTRY,  hireling,  supporting  or  encouraging,  disownable,      .  64 

MODERATION  and  Temperance, 

At  burials,  and  all  other  occasions,  advised,  .  .  .  20, 101 
At  marriages,  advised,  72,  101 

MOURNING  HABITS,  w  earing  or  giving,  advised  against,    .       .  22 

MUSIC,  the  practice  subjects  to  disovirnment,       ....  63 

N. 

NEGROES— See  Slave  Trade  and  Slavery,   127 

Disunity  with  enslaving  mankind,    ib. 

To  be  taught  principles  of  Christian  religion  and  school  learning,  ib. 

Friends  not  to  act  as  executors  where  slaves  are  bequeathed,  128 

Traffic  in,  or  holding  them  in  bondage,  disownable,       .       .  ib. 

Hiring  slaves,  when  the  compensation  goes  to  the  master,  129 

NOISY  gatherings  or  tumults,  promoting,  disownable,          .      .  36 

NOTES,  accommodation,  with  endorsements,  disapproved,    .      .  140 

NOVELS,  plays,  romances,  &c.  to  be  discountenanced,         .       .  25 

o. 

Oaths — christian  testimony  against,  to  be  maintained,  .       .      .  102 
Members  in  office  administering,  or  conniving  at  their  clerks  ad- 
ministering oaths — disow)iable,  ib. 
Friends  not  to  elect  one  another  to  offices  which  violate  this  tes- 
timony, .       .       .      .  •  103 

To  choose  witnesses  to  writings  who  do  not  swear,        .      .  ib. 
OBSERVANCE  of  days  and  times,  testified  against,        .      .         41,  42 
OFFENDERS,  removing  into  the  limits  of  distant  meetings,    .         30,  53 
Guilty  of  reproachful  conduct  and  removing  to  remote  places,  36 

Not  to  sit  in  meetings  for  Discipline,  54 

Mode  of  treating,  including  offences  not  on  minute,  .  .  ib. 
To  be  admonished,  and  sought  in  the  spirit  of  love  before 

church  censure  takes  place,  55 

Leaving  their  places  of  abode  and  removing  to  remote  parts  to 

be  early  informed  of,  IO4 

OFFICES  in  government  not  to  be  accepted  whose  duties  violate  our 

testimonies,   33,  103 

ORDER  of  the  gospel  in  treating  with  offenders,     .       ,       .       .   4,  45 
OVERSEERS,  to  judge  of  the  propriety  of  reference,    ...  18 
To  be  consulted  on  meetings  at  burials,         ....  21 


182 


INDEX. 


Page 


To  ascertain  whether  disorderly  persons,  appearing  as  Friends, 

are  so,   30 

Every  Monthly  meeting,  to  appoint  faithful  and  judicious  men 

and  women  for,   104 

To  exercise  a  vigilant  and  tender  care  over  the  flock,  and  to 

whom  complaints  are  first  to  be  made,  .  .  .  .  ib. 
To  treat  ofi'cnders  with  meekness,  and  notify  Ihem  previously  to 

taking  cases  to  Preparative  meeting,   104 

Cases  of  ofi'cnders,  gone  to  remote  places,      ....  105 

Their  services  not  hmited  to  their  own  Preparative  meeting,  ib. 

Committee  to  be  appointed  once  in  three  years  to  nominate,  ib. 

Friends  brought  forward  not  to  offer  excuse  hastilj%       .      .  ib. 

To  ascertain  early  the  circumstances  of  failures,      .      .      .  141 

P. 

PARENTS  and  guardians  to  prevent  children  from  reading  books  pre- 
judicial to  Christian  principles,   25 

To  apply  for  certificates  for  minors  removing,  ...  30 
Having  approved  addresses,  on  account  of  marriage,  should  not 

retract  without  proper  cause,   71 

To  guard  children  against  improper  connections,    ...  75 

Breaches  of  our  testimony  often  owing  to  want  of  parental  care,  ib. 

AND  CHILDREN,    106 

Children  exhorted  to  obey  their  parents — to  avoid  vain  fashions, 

libertine  company,  taverns,  diversions,  he.       *  .      .      .  ib. 

Not  to  shrink  from  the  cross,  and  the  simplicity  of  our  worship,  107 

Parental  authority  disregarded,  dlsownable,     .       .       .       .  ib. 

Parents  indulging  children  in  excesses,  disownable,        .       .  108 

To  bring  up  children  in  habits  of  industry,  .  .  .  .  ib. 
Liable  to  disownment  for  conniving  at  violations  of  the  order  of 

marriage,    70, 7.6, 115 

PARTY  spirit  not  to  be  encouraged,   144 

PEACE  on  earth,  a  great  object  of  the  Society,      .  34,  67, 143, 144 

PEOPLE  OF  COLOUR— testimony  against  enslaving— trafHc  in— 
ought  to  be  taught  principles  of  Christian  religion — school 

learning,  &c  127,  128 

PENALTY  or  tax  in  lieu  of  personal  service  in  war,       .       .      .  145 

PLAINNESS  of  dress,  language  and  manners,  inculcated,       .       .  107 
Corrupt  language,  fashions  in  apparel,  furniture,  &c.  advised 

.  against,   109 

StufTs,  colours  and  dress,  to  please  the  vain  mind,  to  be  avoided; 

and  tradesmen  and  others  not  to  be  accessary  to  their  use,  ib. 


INDEX.  183 

Page 

All  to  keep  to  the  plainness  and  simplicity  into  wliich  the  spirit  of 

Truth  led  our  forefathers,  and  still  leads  the  obedient,        109,  110 
Testimony  to  plain  lanc^uage  not  to  be  balked  before  others,  110 
PLAYS,  romances,  novels,  &c.  to  be  discountenanced,         .  25,  63 

POLITICAL  devices  or  associations,  not  to  be  encouraged,     .       .  144 

POOR  Friends  to  be  relieved,  28, 29 

To  return  to  meeting  moved  from  when  requested,       .      .  28 
This  rule  not  apphed  to  wife  or  children  of  a  person  not  a  mem- 
ber,  29 

Impoverished  by  fire,  kc  ib. 

Their  situation  to  be  inspected  and  relieved  by  committee — their 
children  educated  by  the  Monthly  meeting  without  expense — 

a  treasurer  &c.  to  be  appointed,  Ill 

PREACHING  or  praying,  any  public  show  of  dislike,  disapproved,  89 
Elders  who  speak  as  ministers  to  withdraw  from  Select  meetings,  91 
Persons  who  give  dissatisfaction  by  preaching  to  be  admonished,  ib. 
If  they  persist  in  imposing  on  Friends,  to  be  disowned,  .  ib. 

PREPARATIVE  MEETINGS— subordination,  .  .  .  .4,47 
To  determine  on  the  propriety  of  referring  disputes,  .  .  18 
To  render  account  of  its  proceedings,  and  submit  to  Monthly 

meeting,  47 

Instituted  or  laid  down  by  Monthly  and  Quarterly  meetings,  47,  48  51 
Joining  to  another  Monthly  meeting,      ....         49,  50 
Use  and  design — not  to  detain,  or  decide  on  business  of  Monthly 
meetings— cases  to  be  carried  forward  in  writing — not  to  take 
cognizance*  of  prbposals  of  marriage,         ....  60 
PREPARATIVE  Meeting  of  Ministers  and  Elders— how  instituted,  89 
To  bring  cases  of  ministers  before  Monthly  meetings  for  consid- 
eration, 90 

To  meet  quarterly,  answer  queries,  and  appoint  representatives,  96 

Of  elders — how  suspended  99 

PRIESTS,  hireling — their  ministrj-  not  to  be  encouraged,       .      .  64 
Attending  marriages  performed  by  their  aid,  disownable,       .  70 
PRIMITIVE  Christians  assembled  for  worship  on  the  First-day,       .  43 
PRINCIPLES  and  doctrines  of  the  gospel  to  be  duly  maintained,     24, 25, 

36,  83,  87,  95.  109,  118,  122,  125, 127 
PRINTING  books  denying  mediation,  atonement.  Holy  Spirit,  &c.  25,  36 
PRINTERS  cautioned  against  printing,  selling,  or  lending  romances, 

novels,  plays,  &c.  25 

PROFANITY  to  be  testified  against  36 

PROPITIATORY  SACRIFICE,  37 

PUBLISHING  works  laying  waste  Christian  principles,  .  .  36 
PRIZE  GOODS,  dealing  in,  to  be  avoided,  145 


184 


INDEX. 


Q. 

I'ace 

QUARTERLY  MEETINGS, 

To  hear  appeals  from  Monthly  meetings,  .  .  .  .9,11 
To  appoint  respondents  to  Yearly  meeting',  ....  12 
To  carry  up  appeals  of  Monthly  meetings,  ....  13 
"When  composed  of  two  Monthly  meetings  only,  to  refer  appeals 

to  Yearly  meeting,  14 

To  record  certificates  of  ministers,  27 

Subordination  to  the  Yearly  meeting,  47' 

Institution  and  laying  down,   ......  47,  48 

Power  to  institute  and  dissolve  Monthly  and  Preparative  Meet- 
ings  48, 51 

To  aid  incompetent  Monthly  meetings,  by  committee,         .  49 
To  be  consulted  respecting  transfer  of  Monthly  and  Preparative 
meetings,  and  institution  of  meetings  for  Worship,  composed 

of  parts  of  two  Monthly  meetings,  50 

To  keep  fair  records  of  its  transactions,         ....  51 
To  grant  copies  of  minutes  to  other  meetings,  and  discretion- 
ally  to  individuals,  51,  52 

To  appoint  representatives  to  Yearly  meeting,      ...  52 

To  forward  accounts  of  Sufferings,  57 

To  appoint  committee  annually  to  propose  clerks,  .  .  ib. 
To  be  cautious  of  employing  drowsy  members,  ...  85 
To  furnish  Yearly  meeting  annually  with  account  of  deceased 

ministers  and  elders,  and  to  examine  memorials,       .      .  86 
To  deliberate  on  concerns  of  ministers,  and  to  grant  endorse- 
ments on  certificates,    92,93,94 

To  .aid  ministers  in  prosecuting  their  religious  visits  when  need- 
ful,  95 

To  decide  on  the  suspension  of  Preparative  meetings  of  elders,  100 

To  appoint  committees  on  education,  122 

Communications  not  regular  to  be  examined  by  committee,  159 

Of  women  Friends — their  duties,  154 

Of  ministers  and  elders,  to  extend  care  to  ministers  and  elders,  88, 98 
To  decide  on  appointments  of  elders,  and  acknowledgment  of 

ministers,  89, 90 

To  consider  the  state  of  Select  Preparative  meetings,  and  answer 

the  Queries,  96 

To  represent  to  Monthly  meetings  the  state  of  Preparative  meet- 

ings  of  elders,  99 

QUERIES, 

Respecting  births  and  deaths,  to  be  answered,      ...  22 


INDEX. 


185 


Page 

To  be  answered  in  writing',  which,  and  by  whom,        .       112,  113 


Advices  to  be  read  annualJy, 
Annually  answered. 
For  meetings  of  Ministers  and  Elders, 
To  be  answered  by  Women's  meetings, 
QUOTAS  of  the  Quarterly  meetings, 

R. 


115 
116 
118 
154 
134 


RACES — members  going  to  them,  liable  to  disowament,        .       .  63 
RECEPTION  into  reUgious  membership,        .       .        7,  39,  55,  56,  151 
Injurious  effects  of  haste,        .......  40 

Parties  to  be  clearly  convinced  of  our  principles,         .       .  ib. 

RECONCILIATION  by  Christ,  37 

RECORDS  of  births  and  deaths  to  be  kept,     .       .       .  22,23,116,154 

Of  certificates  granted,  27 

A  book  to  be  provided  for  recording  minutes,  and  copies  to  be 

given  at  discretion  of  meetings,  ....  51,  52 

Marriage  certificates  to  be  recorded,     .....  73 

Of  trusts  and  conveyances,  &c  78 

Fair  records  of  proceedings  of  Women's  meetings,        .       .  156 

REFERENCES— See  Arbitrations,  15, 16, 17 

Overseers  and  Preparative  meetings  to  judge  of,  .       .  18 

REGENERATION,  the  work  of  the  spirit  of  Christ  within,  .       .  37 

RELIGIOUS  VISITS  to  Families,  62 

Beyond  limits  of  Quarterly  meeting,        ....      92,  93, 94 

Of  females,  153,  154 

REINSTATEMENT  into  membership,  ....  7,8,151 

Of  first  cousins,  and  a  man  and  his  former  wife's  half-sister,  75 

REMOVALS,   7, 27, 31,  153 

Residence  to  be  changed  with  caution,  consulting  Friends,  28 

Require  certificates,   29, 30 

To  remote  or  unknown  places,  authori.ses  Monthly  meetings  to 

disown  in  scandalous  cases,   36, 105 

Into  distant  Monthly  meetings  requiring  care,       ...  53 
REPRESENTATIVES  to  Quarterly  and  Yearly  meetings,         52, 154, 155 
They  and  others  to  be  punctual  to  appointments — to  send  reasons 
for  absence — and  not  to  withdraw  from  meetings  Avithout  con- 
sent,  52 

Of  Preparative  and  Quarterly  meetings  of  Ministers  and  Elders,  96, 97 
To  propose  clerks  for  the  Yearly  meeting,        .  .    156, 159 

REPORTS  to  Quarterly  and  Yearly  meetings  to  be  made  in  writing 

and  signed  by  the  clerks,   52 

A  a 


186 


INDEX. 


Page 

RESIDENCE  in  a  Monthly  meeting  when  certificate  is  produced 

gives  right  there,  unless  some  misconduct  is  discovered,  31 

RESURRECTION  OF  CHRIST,   125 

RESPONDENTS  to  appclhints  appointed  9,11 

RETIREMENT,  advantage  of.  37,43 

REVELATION  of  the  Holy  Spirit,        .       .       .       .       .  .25,36 

RICHES,  nor  greatness  in  this  world,  fits  for  government  in  the 

church,  59 

Inordinate  love  and  pursuit,  counselled  against,    •       .       136,  141 

RIGHTS  of  Children   55,  56,  72 

ROMANCES,  Plays,  &c.  discountenanced,  ....  25 

s. 

SABBATH — the  first-day  of  the  week  neither  the  antitype  of  the 

Jewish,  nor  is  it  the  Christian  sabbath,       ....  42 
SANCTIFICATION  by  the  woik  of  Christ  in  the  heart,        .       .  37 
SCANDAL  to  be  removed,  by  acknowledging  the  offences,  and  con- 
demning the  same  in  writing   35 

SCHOOLS — Queries  respecting,  how  answered,     ....  116 

Directions  for  the  institution  of,          .....  120 

Teachers  of  our  own  persuasion  to  be  provided,          .        120,  122 


Instruction  in  the  principles  of  the  Christian  religion — daily 
reading  of  the  Scriptures,  and  attendance  of  mid-week  meet- 
ings directed,  122 

Liberality  .imong  J'riends  in  the  respective  meetings,  earnestly 
recommended  123 

People  of  colour  to  be  instructed  in  school  learning,  .  .  127 
SCRIPTURES  of  tlie  Old  and  New  Testaments,     ....  125 


Authenticity  and  inspiration,   25,  36, 125 

Books  tending  to  raise  prejudice  against  them,  to  be  avoided,  25,  35 
Ministers  to  read  them  frequently,  seeking  the  mind  of  Truth,  87 
Misapplying  or  drawing  wrong  inferences  cause  of  admonition,  87,  94 

To  be  daily  read  in  schools,   122 

Children  and  families  to  read  them  diligently — they  set  forth  the 
miraculous  conception,  birth,  holy  life,  meritorious  death,  &c. 


of  our  Lord,   125 

Not  to  be  subjected  to  reason,  but  understood  by  the  aid  of  the 

Holy  Spirit,   126 

Any  thing  done  contrary  to  them,  a  delusion,       ...  ib. 

Their  testimony  of  the  Three  which  bear  record  in  heaven,  ib. 

Scripture  names  of  days  and  months  to  be  kept  to,       .       .  41 

SECURITIES  for  mutual  accommodation  disapproved,  .  .  140 
SELLING  or  spreading  books  denying  the  divinity,  mediation,  atone- 


ment, &o.    25, 35 


INDEX. 


187 


Page 

SEPARATION— attempts  to  produce  it,  disownable,                   .  65 
SEPARATISTS — attending  their  meeting's,  marriages,  or  signing  cer- 
tificates, disownable,   70 

SHADOWS  and  Figures  ended,  41, 42 

SILENT  waiting  for  the  renewal  of  strength,  and  for  the  performance 

of  Divine  worship,   37, 83 

SLAVE  Trade  and  Slavery,  testimony  against,  ....  127 
Instruction  of  tlie  people  of  colour,  .....  ib. 
Friends  not  to  act  as  executors  where  slaves  are  bequeathed,  128 
Trading  in,  or  holding  mankind  in  slavery,  disownable,  .  ib. 
Meeting  for  Sufferings  to  advance  the  testimony,  .       .  129 

The  hiring  slaves  for  the  benefit  of  owner,  disownable,  .  ib. 
SPIRIT  OF  TRUTH  to  be  sought  unto,  to  qualify  for  worship,  and  to 

open  mysteries,   .    83, 87,  126 

Still  leads  the  faithful  as  it  did  our  forefathers,      .       .       •  110 
Children  to  be  educated  in  the  belief  of  its  operation  on  the 
mind,  ..........  125 

Leads  out  of  bondage  to  the  spirit  of  the  world,     .       .       .  136 
Its  restrictions  to  be  attended  to  in  trade  and  business,        .  141 
SPIRITUOUS  LIQUORS, 

Advice  against  dram  drinking — giving  it  at  vendues,  disownable,  130 
Ruinous  effects  of  trading  in  it— advice  against  giving  it  as  drink,  131 
Distilling  or  trading  in  the  article,  disownable,      .       .       .  132 

Danger  of  frequenting  taverns  135 

STOCK,   133 

SUBORDINATION  of  Meetings,   4,47,49 

SUBSCRIPTIONS  not  to  be  taken  from  insolvent  members,          .  138 
SUEING  members  at  law  contrary  to  the  Discipline,  except  under  pecu- 
liar circumsi.anccs,  65 

SUFFERINGS,  mode  of  stating   57,  82 

Monthly  and  Quarterly  meetings  to  forward  accounts  annually,  ib. 
SWEARING,  lying,  cursing,  and  other  wicked  practices,  testified 

against,  35 

SORCERY,  56 

T. 

TALE-BEARING  AND  DETRACTION  to  be  suppressed,  45 
Offenders  herein  to  be  admonished,  and,  if  not  reclaimed,  dis- 
owned,  46 

Required  to  give  their  authority,  or  treated  as  originators  of 
reports,       ..........  11), 

TAVERNS,  caution  against  frequenting  them,       .  .        106,  135 

Danger  of  ardent  spirits — advised  not  to  keep  taverns — to 

exert  their  influence  against  unnecessary  increase,    .      .  ib. 


188  INDEX. 

Page 

TAXKS  for  militaiy  pvirposcs  not  to  be  paid,  .       .       .     143  to  146 

TEMrERANCE  and  Moderation,   101 

TESTIMONIES  of  Denial  not  to  be  read  in  Meetings  for  Worship,  8 
To  be  delivered  early  as  convenient,  with  information  of  the 

right  to  appeal,  9,  54,  55 

TEXT — misapplying  or  drawing  unsound  inferences,     .       .      .87,  95 

THREE  that  bear  record  in  heaven  126 

TIMES,  observance  of,  testified  against,  41 

TITLES  of  real  estate  to  be  inspected,  and  (rusts  timely  renewed,  78 
Records  of  trusts  and  conve3  ancesto  be  kept,  and  where  papers 

are  deposited,  ib. 

TRADE — Counsel  against  inordinate  pursuit  of  wealth,  entering  on 

business  not  understood,  or  going  beyond  ability,  .  .  136 
Hazardous  enterprises  to  be  avoided,  .....  137 
Persons  in  danger  of  failing  to  be  treated  with  and  advised  to 

convene  their  creditors,  137,  139 

To  inspect  tlieir  affairs  frequently  and  keep  their  accounts  clear,  138 
To  avoid  partial  payments — assignees  to  be  inquired  of,  .  ib. 
Subscriptions  not  to  be  taken  from  insolvent  members,    .       .  ib. 
Persons  refusing  to  pay  former  debts  after  retrieving  their  cir- 
cumstances, disownable,  138,  140 

Assignment  to  be  made  at  request  of  creditors,  .  .  .  139 
Accommodation  paper  and  joint  securities  disapproved,  .  140 
Divine  counsel  to  be  sought  in  all  engagements,  .  .  .  141 
Overseers  to  ascertain  early  the  cause  of  failure,      .       .       .  ib. 

Failures  to  be  testified  against,  142 

Assignments  without  restriction — creditors  to  have  liberty  to 
appoint  assignees,       ........  ib. 

Or  business,  promotive  of  war,  to  be  avoided,        .       .       .  144 
See  sixth  and  seventh  Queries,       ......  114 

TRADITION,  or  mere  outward  education,  do  not  prepare  for  succes- 
sion in  the  church  58 

TREASURER  of  Monthly  meetings,  '.Ill 

TREATING  with  offenders,  ....  3,53,54,55,150,152 

TRUSTEES  permitted  to  proceed  at  law,  17,  18 

To  be  punctual  and  faithful  to  trusts,  61 

Or  assignees,  to  be  active  in  discharging  duties,  .  .  ,  139 
TUMULTS,  promoters  of,  to  be  disowned,  ....  36 

u. 

UNITY  of  Faith  and  practice,  3 

AND  LOVE,  attempts  to  destroy  it,  testified  against,  .  .  66 
Appearance  of  variance  to  be  removed,  .....  ib. 
Parties  being  irreclaimable  to  be  disowned,    ...  .67 


INDEX. 


189 


V. 

Page 

VENDUES,  giving  or  taking  ardent  spirits  at  them,  disownable,  .  130 
VESSELS,  arming  or  shipping  in  armed  vessels,  testified  against,  145 

VISITING  on  First-day  disapproved,  .44 

VISITS  to  families  encouraged,  62 

To  receive  sanction  where  the  Friend  belongs  and  where  the 
visit  is  made  :— this  applies  also  to  those  coming  from  other 
Yearly  meetings,    .........  ib. 

Religious,  out  of  the  Quarterly  meeting,  to  be  laid  before  Monlli- 
ly  and  Quarterly  meeting  and  Yearly  meeting  of  Ministers  and 
Elders,  as  the  case  requires,       ....     92,  93,  94,  153 

To  engage  consideration  before  the  certificate  is  read,     .       .  92 
The  certificate  to  be  returned  promptly,  &c.     .       .       .       .  ib. 

Ministers  exhorted  to  diligence  and  religious  weight,  .  .  94 
Expenses,  where  needful,  to  be  provided  for,         .      .        95,  96 

W. 

WAGERING,  disownable  offence,  63 

WAITING  in  silence,  37,  83 

War — Friends  exhorted  to  maintain  a  testimony  against  It,     .      .  143 

Overplus  of  distraints  not  received,  unless  in  the  same  goods,  ib. 

Furnishing  wagons,  or  other  conveyances  for  military  stores,  ib. 

Tax  for  purchasing  drums,  &.c.  and  for  military  requisitions,  144,  145 

Viewing  military  operations,  or  joining  political  associations,  ad- 
vised against,  144 

Trade,  promotive  of  war — Prize  goods,  shipping  in  armed  ves- 
sels, grinding  grain,  feeding  cattle,  and  selling  property  for  the 
use  of  the  army,  114,  145 

Deahng  in  Public  Certificates,  145 

Militia  fines,  though  applied  to  civil  purposes,  not  to  be  paid,  146 
WILLS,  to  be  faithfully  executed,  61,  81 

To  be  made,  and  affairs  settled  in  health,  ....    116,  147 

Persons  skilled  in  the  law  to  be  employed,        ....  147 

Executors  and  Administrators  to  make  a  complete  Inventory- 
early  after  interment,   148 

WOMEN'S  MEETINGS— institution  and  duties,      ....  149 

Monthly,  to  take  care  of  their  poor  and  cognizance  of  proposals 
of  marriage,  ib. 

To  appoint  Overseers— treat  with  offenders,  and  deliver  testimo- 
nies,  150 

To  transmit  by  minute,  offences  of  persons  removed  to  distant 
Monthly  meetings,  53, 150 


190 


INDEX. 


Page 

Admission  and  reinstatement  into  Tnembership,       .      .       .  151 

Acknowledgment  for  offences  while  under  care,     .      .       ,  152 
Authority  to  receive  or  disown  a  member  vested  in  the  Men's 

meeting,   153 

Issuing  and  receiving  certificates,       ....        27,  153 
Keligious  concerns  of  women  to  be  laid  before  both  meetings, 

the  certificate  signed  by  the  clerks,  and  correspondent,  93,  153, 155 
To  unite  with  men  in  nomination  of  an  elder,  ....  89 
Preparative — to  answer  Queries,  where  more  than  one  consti- 
tutes a  Monthly  meeting   154 

Monthly  meetings,  also,  to  answer  the  first  eight  Queries,  and 
appoint  representatives  to  the  Quarter,  and  to  give  information 

of  births  and  deaths,   ib. 

Quarterly  meetings  to  consider  religious  concerns — to  transmit 
replies  to  Women's  Yearly  meeting — appoint  representatives 
to  it — communicate  Advices  or  Epistles  from  the  Yearly  meet- 
ing to  the  Monthly  meetings — to  nominate  committees  to 

visit  them.  See   155 

Y'early  meeting  to  correspond  with  those  of  their  own  sex,     .  ib. 

Not  to  hear  appeals,  nor  to  make  rules  : — to  have  a  Stock,      .  156 

Representatives  to  select  a  clerk,     ......  ib. 

At  the  request  of  men  their  Monthly,  Quarterly,  and  Yearly 
meetings  to  appoint  committees  for  setting  up  or  laying  down 

meetings,   ib. 

WORSHIP,  of  those  not  in  communion  with  us,       ...       .  20 

Formal,  testified  against,   .   41 

Meetings  for  worship  discontinued,  ......  48 

Mode  of  setting  up  meetings  composed  of  parts  of  two  Monthly 

meetings,   50 

All  worship  performed  I)y  the  aid  of  the  Holy  Spirit,       .       .  64 

All  meetings  to  be  held  in  the  authority  of  Truth,  ...  83 

Sleeping  and  other  unbecoming  deportment,  .  .  .  ib. 
Exhortation  to  Christian  zeal,  for  the  performance  of,  and  diligent 

silent  waiting,   ib. 

Children  and  apprentices  to  be  brought,         ....  84 

Care  toward  those  who  are  negligent,   ib. 

Drowsy  members  not  to  be  employed   85 

A  care  maintained  to  guard  against  disorder,     ....  89 

Persons  disturbing  by  undertaking  to  preach,       ...  91 

Y. 

YEARLY  MEETING— number  of  Yearly  meetings,       .       .  •   .  5 
To  controul  proceedings  of  inferior  meetings,        ...  47 


INDEX. 


191 


Page 


No  Quarterly  meeting  set  up  without  its  consent,     ...  47 
To  dissolve  Quarterly  meetings,  and  attach  the  Monthly  meet- 
ings to  another  Quarter,   48 

History  of  its  origin,   157 

Committee  on  Epistles,                                                     .  158 

Letters  and  papers,  not  from  meetings  with  which  it  regularly 

corresponds,  examined  by  committee,   ib. 

Representatives  to  propose  clerks,  .....       .  159 

The  present  clerk  to  act  till  a  new  appointment,  .  .  .  ib. 
In  case  he  is  likely  to  be  prevented,  the  Meeting  for  Sufferings 

to  take  charge  of  the  papers,   ib. 

^      Extracts  of  Minutes  to  be  sent  to  all  meetings  for  Discipline,  ib. 

Certificates  of  ministers  to  be  read  in  Yearly  meeting,     .       .  160 

To  provide  for  expenses  of  ministers  when  necessary,  .  .  96 
Of  Ministers  and  Elders,  to  read  replies  to  Queries,  and  to  issue 

Advice,  or  extend  care  to  subordinate  meetings,        .       .  97 
Its  adjournments  not  to  interfere  with  Yearly  meeting  for  Dis- 
cipline,   ib. 

Of  Women  Friends — duties   155 

YOUTH — Ability  to  example  them  in  the  concerns  of  the  church,  58 

Care  requisite,  not  to  bring  them  into  premature  action,  .  ib. 
Judicious  care  on  account  of  marriage,     ....         68,  75 

See  PARENTS  AND  CHILDREN   106 


